This film is based on writer and director Jennifer Fox's own, real life experience with child sexual abuse, though certain aspects of the story were changed, such as Jennifer (Laura Dern)'s confrontation with Bill at the end of the movie.
Similar to in the movie, director Jennifer Fox met with the real Mrs. G several times, and the scenes in the film are based on those meetings. The real Bill would not meet with her, though he spoke with her on the phone many times over the course of several years. The script was based on the real conversations and meetings.
The film had three editors (most films have only one), and this was due to the fact that it was shot over three different shoots to accommodate lead actress Laura Dern's schedule. The first editor was in Germany because of the co-production aspect, and then later was in New York. The second editor had to leave, and a third was brought in.
Director Jennifer Fox's first narrative feature film. Prior to shooting The Tale (2018), she'd only directed and made documentary films.