The film focuses almost exclusively on masculine bonds and rivalries within the Spanish Foreign Legion. There is no depiction of non-cisnormative identities or same-sex intimacy.

The narrative operates within a strictly patriarchal framework. Female characters are minimal and occupy secondary roles, serving as peripheral elements to the central male odyssey.

The cast is predominantly white and European, reflecting the era's demographic norms. While set in North Africa and Spain, the cinematic focus remains on European protagonists.

The film deconstructs Western institutions by portraying state and military structures as punitive. It uses a desert setting to explore moral relativism and the breakdown of authority.

There are no prominent depictions of visible or invisible disabilities. Character struggles center on physical survival and psychological endurance.