The narrative does not feature LGBTQ+ characters or explore non-heteronormative identities. The focus remains strictly on the survival and camaraderie of the prisoner group within a traditional wartime framework.

The film’s architecture is heavily centered on the male experience of war and captivity. The lack of significant female agency or presence in the primary arc limits the subversion of traditional gender roles.

The casting reflects the historical demographic of the Allied prisoners, resulting in a predominantly white ensemble. The film depicts racialized power dynamics without utilizing diverse casting to disrupt the era's social constraints.

The film portrays the breakdown of traditional Western institutions and military discipline as a necessity for survival. It functions as a traditional historical drama critiquing Imperial Japanese expansionism.

Physical suffering and starvation are central to the plot. However, these elements function as plot devices to heighten stakes rather than providing characters with disabilities that possess independent agency.