Paul Schrader met Michael Haneke at a reception for Amour. Haneke told Schrader that his book "Transcendental Style in Film" had been an important book for him. Schrader said, "Okay, I'll make a transcendental film about you," and he did. In Schrader's words, "I blew him up! He loved it and insisted I email him a copy, which I did."