THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIGURATIVE MEANING IN THE DIALOGUES OF THE POPULAR FILM HOME SWEET LOAN

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the construction of figurative meaning in the dialogues of the film Home Sweet Loan through a stylistic approach. The film serves not only as a medium of entertainment but also as a representation of social reality, particularly reflecting the struggles of the sandwich generation under financial and familial pressure. The research focuses on the use of figurative language by the main character Kaluna and other supporting characters to express emotional conflict and social criticism. A descriptive qualitative method was employed, using observation, note-taking, and source triangulation to ensure data validity. The data consisted of dialogues containing figurative language, classified based on Gorys Keraf’s theory, which includes form, meaning, and function. The findings reveal five dominant types of figurative language—irony, cynicism, simile, metaphor, and satire. Each form carries specific expressive, reflective, or social functions that collectively construct character development and portray the social reality of urban life. Irony and cynicism primarily function as tools of social critique, while metaphors and similes intensify emotional expression. These findings indicate that figurative language in Home Sweet Loan is not merely an aesthetic device but also a rhetorical and ideological instrument reinforcing the film’s moral and social message. This research contributes to the field of stylistics in audiovisual studies and provides insights into the interplay between language, ideology, and social representation in contemporary Indonesian cinema.