The story centers on Balthasar, a castrato whose identity exists outside traditional gender binaries. This provides a foundation for exploring gender-variant experiences within a historical context.

Power is concentrated among male figures like the Duke of Arcos and the Spanish administration. Maria Loffredo acts as a catalyst to disrupt this male-dominated status quo.

The setting in Spanish-ruled Naples engages with colonial power dynamics. The film explores the tension between local Neapolitan identity and the ruling Spanish class.

The narrative deconstructs aristocratic morality and challenges the stability of the ruling class. It critiques traditional Western institutional structures through the lens of inherited power.

Balthasar’s physical alteration is used for professional preservation. He risks being a recipient of systemic decisions rather than a character possessing full bodily autonomy.