The film portrays Josephine Monaghan's decades-long adoption of a male identity for survival with dignity and complexity. It respectfully depicts her intimate relationship with Tinman Wong within this context, affirming the worth of their unconventional bond. The narrative emphasizes resilience and agency against societal constraints.

The film portrays Josephine Monaghan's decades-long life as "Jo," a man, with dignity and empathy. Driven by survival and a quest for independence, her story explores themes of gender presentation and identity construction. The narrative affirms her resilience and agency, framing obstacles as external societal pressures rather than inherent flaws in her chosen path.

The film portrays Christian-influenced societal norms and institutions as rigid, hypocritical, and unforgiving, leading to the protagonist's ostracization and hardship. It critiques the lack of compassion and the oppressive nature of these moral judgments rather than the faith itself.