After many years the director admitted that the leading actors in this film had been a mistake. He regretted not having cast co-writer Jerzy Skolimowski and his wife Elzbieta Czyzewska as they were truly great representatives of the 1960s generation.
The movie was criticized by Polish communist government (along with Roman Polanski's _Knife in the Water (1962)_) for being antisocial and for giving Polish youths bad role models. Even the scene when the lead character turns on the radio with his toe was criticized as it was said to have taught young people not to respect new technological achievements.
The title comes from poetic drama "Dziady" ("Forefathers' Eve") by 'Adam Mickiewicz', which is widely considered the greatest masterpiece of Polish Romantic literature.