Fatherhood and Family Values in Transition: Representations of Communication in Sabtu Bersama Bapak

This qualitative study analyzes the representation of family communication patterns in the Indonesian film Sabtu Bersama Bapak using Roland Barthes’ semiotic framework and Fitzpatrick’s Family Communication Patterns theory. The research aims to interpret how family relationships, fatherhood, and parenting values are portrayed through different communication styles. Data were collected through repeated film observation, documentation of seventeen key scenes, and expert interviews with a psychologist to provide interpretative depth. Findings indicate three dominant patterns: the consensual, where communication and decision-making are guided by parents but supported by openness; the pluralistic, emphasizing freedom, empathy, and dialogue; and the protective, characterized by parental authority and limited discussion. These patterns illustrate the negotiation between traditional and modern values in Indonesian families. The film reflects a cultural shift in which emotional expression and communication are becoming central to maintaining familial harmony. Overall, Sabtu Bersama Bapak serves as a cultural text that mirrors the transformation of fatherhood roles and the redefinition of family values in modern Indonesia.