The title is inspired by the Portuguese poem song by Amália Rodrigues called "Estranha forma de vida" (Strange Way of Life), released in 1959 and sung by Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso and lip-synced by actor Manu Ríos at the beginning of this short film. At other times you can hear the melody of the song as well as references to it in the dialogue of the characters.
This is only the second English-language feature by Pedro Almodóvar, the first being The Human Voice (2020), another short film.
Ethan Hawke is only the second American actor to work with director Pedro Almodóvar. The other actor is Peter Coyote, who appeared in Kika (1993).
This is the first film produced by Saint Laurent Productions, a production company from the Yves Saint Laurent fashion house. Their head designer, Anthony Vaccarello, also served as an associate producer and costume designer on the project.
At the sheriff's house, the paintings are by Maynard Dixon, one of the first to paint the Wild West with American Natives and cowboys. There is also a portrait of Lily Langtry, who was a famous actress in the late 19th/early 20th centuries.
At the ranch, a Mexican landscape by Georgia O'Keeffe can be seen above Silva's bed.