The film centers on the non-heteronormative domestic arrangement between Stein and Toklas. It offers a sophisticated portrait of female intimacy that disrupts traditional romantic tropes.

Female characters possess high agency and intellectual labor. The narrative elevates the female experience, portraying women as the primary drivers of their social and intellectual environment.

The cast is predominantly composed of white, Western intellectuals. While exploring diverse intellectual perspectives, the film lacks significant racial or ethnic breadth in its central casting.

The story engages with themes of subjective morality and intellectual secularism. It portrays the expatriate community's departure from rigid, traditional Western moralities.

The film touches on physical vulnerability through the depiction of ailing characters. However, these elements serve as character catalysts rather than exploring disability agency.