The film lacks a narrative framework or character studies to depict specific sexual orientations. There is no explicit evidence of LGBTQ+ characters within the montage.

The film reproduces gender hierarchies inherent in historical art archives. It lacks the narrative agency required to subvert the patriarchal structures of the European empires depicted.

The visual palette is heavily centered on Western civilization and Anglo-European imagery. It lacks diverse ethnic casting or non-Western perspectives in its inquiry into imperial power.

Sokurov disrupts the monolithic Western story through a fragmented, postmodern structure. This approach critiques traditional institutional authority by presenting history as a collection of decaying images.

Because the film is a non-narrative montage, there are no characters portrayed with visible or invisible disabilities.