The film tells a compelling story centered on personal ambition and cultural context, with characters generally developed through merit and struggle, not simply identity labels. Casting Chinese actresses in Japanese roles raised controversy, but within the film's narrative, character arcs remain reasonably grounded and not dominated by ideology.

Traditions, family, and cultural practices are depicted authentically for the most part, with the central narrative built around the realities of pre-war Japan. The film doesn't seem to preach modern values or undermine traditional morality but instead focuses on the era's customs, sometimes even to a fault for modern viewers.

Alternative viewpoints or dissenting worldviews don't feature heavily, but that's more a historical focus than outright monoculture. Traditional roles and practices are not satirized. The film is more interested in authentic storytelling than enforcing today's ideological uniformity.