Based on a true story, the film depicts a blind man who could draw portraits of people by hearing their voice in 1950s Italy.

[7] On 23 May 2021, ABC News reported that Spacey and Vanessa Redgrave, Nero's wife, would star in the film and that it would soon be shot in Italy.

On casting Spacey, Nero told the outlet, "I'm very happy Kevin agreed to participate in my film.

"[9] Later that day, producer Louis Nero told Variety that Spacey and Redgrave's roles are small, while the main character is played by Franco Nero, and that Redgrave's appearance was not finalised but would depend on whether she could travel from England to Italy.

[8][13] According to Louis Nero, the film was inspired by the true story of a teacher at the Academy of Fine Arts in Turin in the 1970s who made clay portraits even after becoming blind because of melanoma.