This was the first co-production between East and West Germany.
Almost 20 children from Rügen were invited to the Babelsberg film studios at the time. The four Rüganers Jörg Resler, Karin Kaltenbach (born Heidemann), Wolfgang Hinz and Gerald Schraml were finally selected. Most of the scenes for the film, which actually takes place in the supposed West Pomeranian village of Kummerow, were shot in Vilmnitz, Resler recalls an exciting time. "After all, we received 40 marks a day for 40 days of shooting, the first earnings for the children. And there was even a surcharge for a nude scene in the film," Resler recalls, smiling.