Paradise in Service
Paradise in Service is a 2014 Taiwanese historical period film directed, co-written and co-produced by Doze Niu. Set in Kinmen in the 1960s and 1970s, the film focuses on Unit 831, a Republic of China Armed Forces military brothel in existence on the island from 1952 to 1990. It was screened in the Panorama section of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival.
Plot
In 1969, physically fit Taiwan native Lo Pao-tai (Ethan Juan) arrives in Kinmen as a new Republic of China Army conscript. He is selected by Sergeant Major Chang Yun-shan (Chen Jianbin) to be part of the 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (also known as the Frogmen of the R.O.C. Army) for grueling training, where he underperforms. He helps Chang Yun-shan—an illiterate who twenty years ago was kidnapped by the R.O.C. Army from his Shandong village and forced to leave the mainland—and Chang in turn arranges for his transfer to work in the military brothel known as Unit 831.
Cast
More details
author | Doze Niu |
---|---|
director | Doze Niu |
genre | drama historical |
keywords | abusive marriage alternate reality bully chen jianbin dumpling force ivy chen kidnap kill kinmen married one night republic of china army shandong shanghainese shanghainese people taiwan train wan qian wed wheat field |
musicBy | Cincin Lee |