The film centers on Mrs. Edward Island, a transvestite housekeeper who serves as the heart of the mystery. This placement gives a gender-nonconforming character significant agency and visibility within the narrative.

Commissioner Leon subverts masculinity through his secret passion for knitting, a traditionally feminized craft. While this challenges gendered archetypes, the extent of female agency in the investigation is unclear.

The story is localized to Brussels and focuses on a specific cultural milieu. There is little evidence of a broad spectrum of racial intersectionality within the primary cast.

The film uses a surrealist backdrop of painter tombs to critique traditional art history. It highlights marginalized figures, such as a housekeeper, to explore lives on the fringes of society.

The plot involves physical trauma regarding the victims' missing forearms. However, there is no evidence of characters living with disabilities or neurodivergence.