Analisis Isolasi Sosial terhadap Lansia dalam Film Dokumenter Berjudul “Kodokushi (2020)” Karya Ensar Altay

Abstract

This study analyzes the impact of social isolation on the elderly as represented in the film "Kodokushi (2020)" by Ensar Altay. The film was selected for its representation of the kodokushi phenomenon (dying alone) as an extreme consequence of social isolation among Japan's elderly population. Using descriptive qualitative research methods and content analysis techniques to examine scenes, dialogues, and symbols in the film, and analyzed through the social isolation theory of the National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine as well as Roland Barthes’ semiotic theory. The study results revealed sociocultural factors (lack of social support, interactions with animals, and life-changing events) and socioenvironmental factors (limited transportation options and geographic location) as contributing factors to social isolation among older adults. The impacts of isolation experienced by the elderly in the film include declining mental health, loss of social presence, diminished emotional support, and the most tragic consequence: unattended death (kodokushi). Additionally, the study identifies several indicators of loneliness portrayed in the elderly characters. For example, nonverbal expressions such as vacant stares and passive body posture, as well as the use of private, silent spaces with minimal interaction, are depicted as symbolic representations of isolation and solitude. his study concludes that social isolation poses a serious threat to the well-being of older adults and requires greater attention from families, communities, and the government. The film Kodokushi (2020) by Ensar Altay effectively reflects the social realities of elderly individuals in Japan through visual signs that semiotically construct meanings of loneliness, alienation, and the loss of social existence, while also serving as a medium for raising awareness about the importance of social interaction and support for the elderly.