The play was based on parts of the life of the Lebanese communist militant Souha Bechara.[5][6][7][8] Charlotte Facet notes that Mouawad met with Bechara before writing the play, but adds that some of the material is adapted from Randa Chahal Sabag's film work on and with Bechara,[9] while noting that many of the characteristics of Bechara are divided among the main characters including Jeanne and Simon, rather than Nawal alone.[10]
It was the second part of a thematically-related, but not strictly sequential, trilogy of plays about characters of Middle Eastern origins confronting family secrets, preceded by Tideline (Littoral) and followed by Forests (Forêts).[11]