The film lacks LGBTQ+ characters or explorations of non-heteronormative identities. The narrative focuses exclusively on heterosexual partnerships and traditional familial units.

Gender is explored through domestic strain and emotional labor. The film avoids stable patriarchal tropes, instead presenting both men and women as vulnerable to systemic failures.

The story centers Moroccan, Mexican, and Japanese perspectives to challenge Western-centric views. Diverse characters, such as Moroccan shepherds, are granted high agency rather than being peripheral.

The film critiques Western privilege and the friction between local customs and international authority. It uses cultural disconnect to drive its exploration of globalized tragedy.

A deaf teenager in Tokyo provides a significant portrayal of sensory disability. This character uses their experience of silence to deepen themes of communication breakdown and isolation.