The film focuses on the hyper-masculine environments of Rio de Janeiro's criminal underworld and juvenile detention centers. There is no discernible presence of LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisnormative identities.

The narrative is dominated by male agency within survivalist violence. While women appear in the social landscape, they often occupy secondary roles or are depicted through domestic struggles in the favelas.

The production disrupts white-centric casting by utilizing a predominantly Black and mixed-race cast. This approach centers voices from the Brazilian favelas, providing high levels of agency to characters of color.

The film offers a profound critique of state institutions and capitalist structures. It portrays traditional entities like the police and social services as failed or oppressive forces within a corrupt framework.

The story explores psychological trauma resulting from systemic neglect, but lacks explicit focus on physical or neurodivergent disabilities. Struggles are framed through socioeconomic lenses rather than disability advocacy.