FRAMING ANALYSIS OF RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE IN THE FILM “BERDOA, MULAI”

Abstract

The short film functions as an effective mass communication medium in conveying social messages, particularly issues of religious tolerance in Indonesia’s pluralistic society. The short film Berdoa, Mulai (2022) portrays the experiences of Ruth, a Catholic teenager living and studying in a predominantly Muslim environment, who encounters social pressure, cultural adaptation, and limited space to express her religious identity. This study aims to analyze how messages of religious tolerance are framed in the film and to identify the dominant framing elements presented. This research employs a qualitative approach using Robert N. Entman’s framing analysis, which consists of defining problems, diagnosing causes, making moral judgments, and proposing treatment recommendations. Data were obtained from scenes, dialogues, and visual narratives in the film. The findings indicate that the film frames religious tolerance by emphasizing the lived experiences of religious minorities within majority-dominated social structures. The problem is defined as the Lack of inclusive spaces, caused by insufficient social and institutional sensitivity toward diversity, while moral judgments highlight empathy and respect for differences. The dominant framing elements are problem definition and moral judgment. Implicitly, the film recommends dialogue, collective awareness, and the creation of inclusive social spaces as efforts to foster interreligious tolerance and social harmony.