Representation of Balinese Traditional Culture in the Film A Perfect Fit (Semiotics of Roland Barthes)

Abstract

This research aims to identify, describe, and understand the representation of Balinese culture and customs in the film A Perfect Fit (2021), directed by Hadrah Daeng Ratu, through Roland Barthes' semiotic approach. This descriptive-analytical qualitative study examines audio-visual signs at the levels of denotation, connotation, and myth to reveal implicit meanings and ideologies represented by the characters in negotiating tradition and modernity. Primary data were obtained from observations of Balinese cultural scene patterns, while secondary data came from relevant academic literature. The results show that at the denotative level, Balinese culture is presented through visual symbols such as gebogan, lontar paweton, Payas Agung attire, the Mebuug-buugan tradition, and gamelan music. At the connotative level, these elements mark values of sacredness, harmony, self-purification, and cultural identity. At the myth level, the film reproduces the idea that Balinese culture and spirituality are adaptive, harmonious, and remain prioritized amid modern urban living. The study concludes that transnational film media functions as a space for meaning construction that affirms the sustainability of Balinese tradition in the global digital era.