The film is a period piece rooted in 19th-century Wallachia, with character development and storylines woven naturally into the setting. It doesn’t seem to shoehorn in modern identity politics or artificially elevate characters based on present-day ideological quotas. The focus remains on historical authenticity and nuanced relationships rather than forcibly imposed representation.

Aferim! approaches sensitive cultural and historical issues, such as prejudice and social hierarchy, yet it does so in a way that’s specific to its setting and time. Traditional structures like family, faith, and masculinity are explored rather than caricatured, and the film doesn’t aggressively undermine these foundational institutions.

While the film does highlight injustices and social issues of the time, it doesn’t appear to moralize from a single ideological perspective or treat dissenting views as caricatures. The characters reflect varying outlooks, and viewers are permitted to grapple with the complexities rather than being spoon-fed a modern narrative.