The film centers on an intense romantic longing between the mermaid and the prince. While it lacks explicit non-heteronormative identities, its abstract exploration of desire offers a subtle departure from standard romantic tropes.

The narrative disrupts hierarchies by centering on the female protagonist's internal agency and existential crisis. It emphasizes her subjective experience and psychological autonomy rather than portraying her as a passive object.

The production features a homogeneous cast consistent with its Czechoslovak New Wave origins. There is no evidence of color-blind casting or intentional racial blending within this European folkloric setting.

The film adopts a postmodern approach to spirituality, focusing on metaphysical concepts like the soul. It prioritizes subjective, dreamlike truths over specific religious dogma or traditional Western institutional morality.

The mermaid's physical transformation serves primarily as a metaphor for lost identity and communication. This use of her physical state functions more as a plot mechanism than a nuanced portrayal of disability.