Trivia

The tracking shot of the traffic jam was the longest tracking shot in the history of cinema at that point in time as it was 300 meters long.

Lead actress Mireille Darc recounts her first encounter with Godard before shooting: "The meeting takes place, Godard barely speaks to me, looking exasperated behind his big glasses- and yet, yes, he agrees, we're going to work together. On what? He won't tell me. Maybe he doesn't know yet. When I ask him why he is consenting to make this sacrifice, his answer chokes the laughter in my throat: 'Because I don't like you, I don't like the character you play in your films and who you are in life, and because the character in my film must be unpleasant. Oh, I almost forgot: your hair is too blonde; make it light chestnut. And come without makeup; just a little under the eyes, and even so..."

The intertitle before the slaughter of the pig reads "Thermidor", which is the name of the month of the French revolutionary calendar when Robespierre was executed.

There are allusions to Georges Bataille's "Histoire de l'oeil" throughout the film (e.g. Corrine describing her sexual encounter involving the milk and eggs). There are a few thematic references to the book, mainly in relation to consumerism, desire and savagery.

Premiere voted this movie as one of "The 25 Most Dangerous Movies".