The story focuses on spiritual and socioeconomic struggles within the village. It lacks significant queer narratives or non-cisnormative identities, adhering to the traditional social structures of its 1982 setting.

Elsa, the female protagonist, disrupts traditional hierarchies by gaining agency through her perceived divinity. Her influence allows her to transcend the patriarchal constraints of her isolated community.

The film features a robust, non-Western cast deeply rooted in the Filipino experience. It avoids the white gaze by centering localized struggles and providing agency to characters of color.

The narrative offers a nuanced critique of religion, portraying faith as a potential tool for exploitation. It explores the tension between communal life and the intrusive gaze of outsiders.

Healing serves as a central plot device for characters with various ailments. However, these depictions often use infirmity as a narrative catalyst rather than providing deep agency to disabled characters.