Romanticism to Survival: Female Representation in GDH Films

Abstract

This research article aims to 1) analyze the representation, psychological characteristics, and core drives of female characters in films produced by GDH 559 Co., Ltd., focusing on the transition from the power of romantic love to the power of survival and the emotional economy; and 2) examine the relationship between the construction of these characters and the Thai social context. This study employs a qualitative methodology, utilizing textual and descriptive analysis of nine selected films, grouped into two periods: 2016–2018 and 2024–2025. The theoretical framework integrates three-dimensional character analysis, the nine personality types (Enneagram), gender theory, and the concept of emotional economy. The findings reveal that female representation in GDH films has evolved significantly in alignment with shifting social contexts. In the initial period (2016-2018), female characters were predominantly driven by the “Power of Love,” seeking romantic fulfillment and the completion of personal relationships. However, in the later period (2024-2025), their core drives shifted toward the “Power of Survival.” Female characters are portrayed bearing the burden of care work while struggling against economic vulnerability, class disparities, and legal constraints. These characters are constructed as women facing intersectional oppression, who must strategically use relationships and their bodies as vital resources to negotiate within patriarchal power structures. In conclusion, contemporary GDH films do not merely reproduce romantic fantasies; they also serve as a space for social critique, illustrating how women’s love has become inextricably tied to survival under structures that restrict their freedom and life choices.