 Moreover, the Chinese concept of family is firmly anchored in two relationships in the film – the individual-family relationship and the nation-family relationship..

Scholar Hye Seung Chung suggests that The Big Road is an allegory of Sino-Korean unity, one that was founded upon a common resistance against the Japanese Empire at the time of the film's release and embodied by the films Korean-born star Jin Yan.Featured in the film is one original theme song, "Song of the Big Road" (大路歌), composed by Nie Er, with lyrics by Sun Yu.Asides from expressing of the tramps of the road builders, they believe the song should emphasize more on the vigorous spirit of the fight for freedom and liberation of the contemporary youth with a heavy responsibility.