Paradise in Service

A physically fit Taiwan-born recruit who arrives as a new ROC Army conscript and is quickly pushed into the grueling routine of the 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, the Frogmen. He navigates duty while guarding his own future, including a vow to marry the girl he loves back home. Lo embodies restraint and quiet resilience as he faces the moral gray of Unit 831 and the brothel world. His loyalty and careful choices anchor his path through conflict and temptation.

A seasoned sergeant major scarred by history, kidnapped from his Shandong village two decades earlier and forced to leave the mainland. He becomes a pivotal mentor to Lo, orchestrating his transfer into Unit 831 and guiding him through its moral ambiguities. Chang plans to marry Jiao, leave military life, and open a restaurant in Taiwan, revealing a hunger for normal life beyond the barracks. His arc culminates in a decisive act that exposes the costs of hidden ambitions.

A steadfast friend from Lo’s hometown who endures bullying and the pressures of confinement in the tunnels. He fights to escape with Sasa, a fellow captive, in a bid to reach the mainland. Chung represents loyalty under strain, balancing camaraderie with the harsh reality of life inside Unit 831. His actions underscore the film's themes of friendship, endurance, and the pursuit of a hopeful future.

A coquettish figure in Unit 831 who uses relationships with clients to accumulate wealth and secure her own release from the brothel. Her plans become a flashpoint for the conflict with Chang and Lo, revealing the ambiguities of survival within a constrained system. Her motives are driven by self-preservation and a desire for freedom, making her a controversial, pivotal presence in the story.

A reserved Shanghainese woman with a hidden past who works in Unit 831 to serve a sentence while caring for a son. She becomes a steadying force for Lo, teaching him to play guitar and offering quiet support amid turmoil. By 1971 she receives amnesty, opening a potential return to Taiwan, yet her bond with Lo remains complex and meaningful.

A young prostitute within Unit 831 whose presence highlights the human costs of the brothel's system. She interacts with the other residents of the unit, contributing to the climate of longing, desperation, and subtle resilience that threads through the narrative.