Icons, Indices, and Symbols of the Film Perayaan Mati Rasa by Umay Shahab: A Charles Sanders Peirce Semiotic Study

This study provides a semiotic analysis of the Indonesian drama film Perayaan Mati Rasa (2025), directed by Umay Shahab. The researchers investigate how the film communicates themes of mental health, emotional crisis, and family conflict through visual and narrative signs. By applying the semiotic framework of Charles Sanders Peirce, the authors categorize these signs into icons, indices, and symbols to reveal how the film constructs its narrative of emotional numbness.

The researchers employed a qualitative descriptive method, utilizing repeated viewings and screenshot documentation to identify and classify signs within the film. The analysis follows Peirce’s trichotomy:

• Icons: Signs that represent objects through direct physical resemblance.
• Indices: Signs that indicate a causal or existential relationship with the object.
• Symbols: Signs that derive meaning from social and cultural conventions.

The study identified 24 distinct signs within the film. Eight icons were identified, primarily focusing on the visual representation of characters to depict their emotional states and interpersonal dynamics. Eleven indices were found, including facial expressions, lighting, and body gestures, which serve as markers for the protagonist's internal psychological struggles, such as loneliness and stress. Finally, five symbols—including a Yasin book, family heirlooms, and the sea—were analyzed as culturally embedded markers of grief, sacrifice, and hope. The researchers conclude that these signs work together to convey the film's moral message, moving beyond dialogue to create a multi-layered narrative of family reconciliation.

This research highlights the effectiveness of semiotics in deconstructing contemporary Indonesian cinema. By demonstrating how visual elements and cultural symbols function to represent complex psychological states, the study provides a useful framework for educators and researchers to analyze how modern films address sensitive social issues like mental health and generational trauma.