another theme is loneliness and isolation. all the residents are separated from each other. they are like prisoners in their own apartments. jeff cannot leave the apartment with his injury. the entire film is also limited to the space of the courtyard. the character miss lonelyhearts can represent the isolation of the neighbors. jeff is detached from the neighbors as he watches them, and they do not know he is watching them. jeff is like a photographer, taking mental pictures of his neighbors. the dog owner says that none of the people know the meaning of a neighbor and that they do not care.