A Night in Distant Motion incorporates several different literary techniques to make the work interesting and thought-provoking to its readers.

Among these are Korschunow's use of symbolism, her use of World War II as a setting to give the reader a sense of place, and the uses of a shifting time perspective and flashbacks to generate suspense in the story. Together, these qualities draw the reader into the world of the story.

Some of the symbolism in the book pairs light and dark, but not in an obvious way. As Korschunow only sketchily describes her characters physically, the light and dark comes forth in personalities. For example, outwardly, Jan and Feldmann resemble one another somewhat. Both are small men; Jan is "tall, but certainly not athletic . . . Everything about him [has] something cautious . . . He [looks] more like someone who slinks off when there's shooting." Feldmann walks cautiously...