 American viewers infer parallels between the film and the Assassination of John F. Kennedy, particularly given how some stylistic elements seem to mimic the Zapruder film.That said, Costa-Gavras has stated that the Zapruder film had not been widely circulated in Europe at the time and that Kennedy's assassination did not influence the production.Principal photography took place in Algiers at actor Jacques Perrin's suggestion, which the filmmakers approved for its Mediterranean environment and because the Ministry of Culture was accommodating.