The film adheres to traditional romantic and familial structures of early 20th-century France. There is no evidence of non-cisnormative identities or same-sex intimacy.

Men occupy the active, violent space of the trenches while women are relegated to domestic spheres of mourning. The film reinforces traditional gender hierarchies and conventional roles.

The cast is ethnically homogeneous, reflecting the demographic realities of the French peasantry in 1914. It presents a largely white, agrarian population without diverse ethnic perspectives.

Religious institutions like the Church serve as central, stabilizing pillars for communal mourning. The film emphasizes shared national suffering within the existing social order.

Physical and psychological trauma are used to illustrate the brutality of war. These elements serve thematic purposes rather than exploring nuanced lived experiences of disability.