The Film Paradise in Heart and Its Dialogue with Gender Symbols

Abstract

This article examines how Paradise in Heart (Lạc giới, 2014), directed by Phi Tiến Sơn, constructs and interprets symbolism through two recurring images: milk and the goat. By employing discourse analysis, semiotics, and queer theory, the study reveals that these seemingly familiar symbols embody complex layers of meaning concerning gender and power. The symbol of milk, traditionally associated with women’s nurturing and reproductive roles, also destabilizes masculine norms through the depiction of Hải, a male character dependent on milk for survival. Meanwhile, the image of the goat reflects the institutionalization of reproductive joy imposed upon the female body and reinforces patriarchal order; yet this is simultaneously “queered” by the emergence of a same-sex relationship. In conclusion, through analyzing these two symbols, the paper demonstrates the dual nature of Paradise in Heart: on one hand, it reaffirms heteronormative structures; on the other, it opens up spaces for queer representation.