Gender Equality in Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts as Seen from Islamic Perspective

Abstract

Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts, an Indonesian movie, was played for the first time in cinemas in 2017, and outstandingly, this movie returned to be shown again in 2019. The movie has won many awards that prove its quality and excellence. Since this movie powerfully conveys gender equality in a country with the world’s largest Muslim population, it is challenging to observe how the depicted gender messages are based on Islamic values. Hence, this article combines the analysis of gender equality and Islamic perspective with Marlina Murderer in Four Acts as the object of the study. The representation theory of Stuart Hall will be applied to observe the signs which represent the gender issues. Then, this research is qualitative research supported by Gillian Rose’s visual approach. The data analysis technique is conducted by observing the representations of gender equality in the film while analyzing those with the concept of gender equality in Islam. The research finds that gender equality is reflected in the narrative and cinematic elements. Furthermore, it is correct that men and women are biologically different, but both genders have equal capabilities and skills. In conclusion, Marlina represents the struggle for equality and the result of such a struggle because equality should be obtained by consciousness, willpower, and acts.