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Liem Bui Quoc, RMIT University Vietnam, VietnamAbstract
This paper explores the intricate relationship between culinary narratives and emotional landscapes in the films of Tran Anh Hung, focusing on how food serves as a powerful metaphor for human relationships. By analyzing six of his films—The Scent of Green Papaya (Tran, 1993), Cyclo (Tran, 1995), The Vertical Ray of the Sun (Tran, 2000), Norwegian Wood (Tran, 2010), Eternity (Tran, 2016), and The Taste of Things (Tran, 2023)—this study examines the multifaceted ways in which Tran employs food preparation, presentation, and consumption to reflect and deepen the emotional and relational dynamics of his characters. The first research question investigates how Tran uses the act of food preparation and presentation to symbolize the development and dynamics of human relationships. The second question delves into the use of specific culinary traditions to highlight cultural clashes and emotional complexities, revealing how these traditions serve as a backdrop for the characters’ interactions and conflicts. The third question explores how the consumption of food is used to metaphorically express characters’ desires, frustrations, and societal constraints, providing insight into their internal and external struggles. Through a detailed analysis of these films, this paper argues that Tran Anh Hung’s cinematic use of food transcends mere sustenance, becoming a rich, symbolic language that communicates the subtleties of human connection, cultural identity, and emotional depth. This study contributes to the broader understanding of how culinary elements in cinema can be employed to articulate complex human experiences and relationships, offering a unique lens through which to view Tran Anh Hung’s oeuvre.
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Conference: ACAH2025Stream: Media
This paper is part of the ACAH2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Quoc L. (2025) Culinary Narratives and Emotional Landscapes: Food as a Metaphor for Human Relationships in Tran Anh Hung’s Cinema ISSN: 2186-229X – The Asian Conference on Arts & Humanities 2025 Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 127-138) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2186-229X.2025.10
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2186-229X.2025.10
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