Hijrah, an ideological representation of Tjokroaminoto’s struggle in the biopic <i>Guru Bangsa: Tjokroaminoto</i>

This article discusses the idea of hijrah which seems to be the driver of the plot in the biopic Guru Bangsa: Tjokroaminoto (2015). Tjokroaminoto is a figure of Sarekat Islam (Islamic Union), a mass organization that had millions of followers at a time when Indonesia was still under Dutch colonialism. The method used is a qualitative method with a structural approach. Boggs and Petrie film study theory and Barthes’ structural semiotics are used to read patterns and reveal the significance of events, mise-en-scène, monologues, dialogues, and interactions between characters. Islamic values play an important role in coloring Tjokroaminoto’s ideology which is reflected through the narrative and visualization of Tjokroaminoto’s scenes throughout the film. Other findings include (1) Hijrah as a manifestation of Tjokroaminoto’s high spirituality and (2) Hijrah as a manifestation of the change of Tjokroaminoto’s humanitarian philosophy. Tjokroaminoto’s hijrah was a manifestation of the relationship between Hablum Minallah and Hablum Minannas; the vertical piety with Allah SWT and horizontal piety as a Javanese nobleman who attempted to alleviate social class disparity. This film emphasizes the manifestation of the idea of hijrah as an ideology in the struggle against colonialism and Tjokroaminoto’s criticism of the feudal culture.