The film contains no LGBTQ+ characters or explorations of non-heteronormative identities. Interpersonal dynamics focus strictly on familial loss and survival-based companionship within a 1930s context.

Natty Gann serves as a strong female protagonist who drives the plot through her own resilience. She demonstrates significant agency while navigating a landscape dominated by adult male figures.

The narrative focuses primarily on the white working-class experience. While it depicts communal struggle, the cast lacks significant racial or ethnic breadth, resulting in a relatively homogeneous depiction.

The film provides a nuanced critique of systemic economic failure during the Great Depression. It frames economic institutions as sources of instability rather than celebrating American prosperity.

There is no significant focus on visible or invisible disabilities. Character struggles are framed through socioeconomic deprivation and physical survival rather than neurodivergence or chronic illness.