The film adheres to the heteronormative social structures of the mid-20th century. There is no evidence of same-sex intimacy or non-cisnormative identities within the military setting.

The narrative operates within a traditional masculine framework centered on male soldiers. Women are depicted navigating war's hardships, but their roles are largely defined by their relationships to men.

As a domestic production, the cast is culturally homogeneous. It replaces Western concepts of racial diversity with a nuanced exploration of internal Chinese socioeconomic and regional identities.

The film provides a sophisticated portrayal of the transition from the Nationalist era to the People's Republic. It emphasizes collective history and the dismantling of old social hierarchies.

War injuries are depicted as markers of the physical cost of conflict. These portrayals focus on collective trauma rather than characters with disabilities possessing independent agency.