The film focuses on wartime survival and national heritage. It does not feature non-cisnormative identities or narratives that critique heteronormative structures.

Leadership roles are primarily male-dominated within the military struggle. While an Australian nurse provides a vital counterpoint, high-stakes decision-making remains concentrated among men.

The film excels by centering Chinese agency and the protection of indigenous artifacts. It disrupts Western-centric savior tropes through a predominantly Chinese ensemble.

This post-colonial narrative frames the struggle as a defense of sovereignty. It emphasizes the importance of indigenous heritage against imperialist expansion.

War-induced trauma and the vulnerability of orphans are depicted. However, these elements serve the broader tragedy rather than providing nuanced studies of specific disabilities.