The film features a bisexual protagonist and a community of queer women whose relationships are depicted with dignity and agency. It affirms their identities and chosen lifestyles, framing external societal conflicts as challenges to their freedom rather than denigrating their queer experiences.

The character of 'The Countess,' who is explicitly female in Tom Robbins' original novel, is portrayed as male by actor John Hurt in the 1994 film adaptation. This constitutes a clear gender swap for a significant character.

The film adapts a novel where The Countess, explicitly described as Japanese-American in the source material, is portrayed by a white actress. Additionally, the Native American character Julian Gitche is played by an Asian-American actor. These portrayals constitute race swaps.