The film lacks LGBTQ+ characters or explorations of non-heteronormative identities. The central romantic arc focuses on a traditional marriage between the protagonist and Xiuzhi.

Xiuzhi provides a vital emotional and intellectual counterweight to the protagonist. She possesses agency in maintaining the family's moral fabric despite the era's socioeconomic and political instability.

The film centers the lived experiences of the Chinese peasantry and the specificities of the grasslands. It avoids Western-centric norms by prioritizing authentic ethnic identity and local realities.

The narrative critiques political radicalism and institutional power. It contrasts state-mandated dogma against the human necessity of duty, survival, and individual integrity.

There are no prominent depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities that drive the narrative.