Contrary to popular belief, the film did not inspire a new so-called "Rosetta Law" in Belgium that prohibited employers from paying teen workers less than the minimum wage and included other youth labour reforms. In a Guardian interview with the Dardenne brothers, Jean-Pierre explained the misconception: "No, that law already existed, it just hadn't been voted through yet. The truth is always less interesting than the fiction."
David Cronenberg, who was president of the jury at Cannes when "Rosetta" was submitted into the competition, says that it was the last movie reviewed by the jury. At that point, the Dardenne brothers were completely unknown to the jurors, but they all fell in love with the film, and without argument or discussion unanimously voted to award it the Palme d'Or. Gilles Jacob, who was then head of the festival, said it was the fastest vote for the Palme d'Or ever in the history of Cannes.
Émilie Dequenne's debut.
This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #621.