The story centers on a heteronormative romance between Stéphane and Stéphanie. It lacks visible LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisnormative identities, sticking to traditional romantic tropes.

While Stéphanie provides a grounded contrast to the protagonist, the narrative remains focused on the male lead's internal struggles. It does not explicitly seek to subvert gender hierarchies.

Set in Montmartre, the film features a predominantly white, European cast. Despite Gael García Bernal's presence, the environment remains ethnically homogeneous within a specific Parisian milieu.

The film explores postmodern fragmentation and subjective truth through the protagonist's dreams. It frames the mundane world as restrictive but avoids explicit anti-institutional critiques.

The protagonist displays neurodivergent traits, specifically dream/reality dissociation. The surrealist aesthetic provides a window into his unique cognitive processing rather than using it for mockery.