Film Analysis:

Ang Bistida ni Ana sa Mata nga Pula

Directed by Daniel De La Cruz and Ma. Luisa Nalupano
By Jan Kevin Antonio

Nowadays Film is no longer for aesthetic nor synthetic art, it is now deeply rooted to
several pressing issues happening and integrated into the basic structure of modern society. Film
has been also used in the classroom as a learning tool (Brown & Keating, 2015). Using Film as a
teaching technique, students have the opportunity to broaden their perspective (Ello, 2008). “Ang
Bistida ni Ana sa Mata nga Pula '' is one of the short films that has showcased in Cinematahum
2023 and it is directed by Daniel De La Cruz and Ma. Luisa Nalupao. This film is one of the best
materials that any lecturer could utilize to teach students how creative filmmakers are in telling
stories using signs. This paper will analyze the film using the semiotic analysis under the critical
approaches to media text.
The short film uses two main signs which are the ladle and sewing machine that would be
the main focus to analyze how effective the elements are in telling the story. Semiotic theory
focuses on the social and cultural meaning of signs and codes (Scholes et al., 2002). For instance,
the film repeatedly reveals the mother using a sewing machine to create a dress for Ana. At first,
you will find the deed of the mother pleasant because she generates a dress for Ana everyday.
However, when Ana’s brother appeared in the film the persona of the mother changed. Few
minutes of the film shows how the mother unfairly treated her son while being lovable towards
Ana. In addition, the tail of the ladle has also repeatedly appeared in the film. Personally. I did
not really overthink too much about the ladle because normally a mother uses a ladle to cook
food for her children. As the film reaches its climax, it reveals that the reason why the mother
cares too much about Ana is because she uses her child to earn money through online child
pornography. The ladle again appeared covered with blood which I assumed was being used as
the “dildo.” On the other hand, the sewing machine is the symbol of the phrase- “basaon anay
bag-o isulod, kag amo ang pagsaka padalom'' that is repeatedly uttered from the first until the
last scene of the movie. The phrase is uttered by the mother to teach Ana how to use the ladle
while facing the webcam.
Furthermore, the filmmakers are successful in using those elements to metaphorically tell
the stories of Ang Bistida ni Ana sa Mata nga Pula. These elements help the film to be viewed
not in erotic way. Given that the film intended to be showcased in several audiences. The
meaning of the signs has been justified because of the tight relationship between the signifier, the
signified, and the referent.
In conclusion, short films like the Ang Bistida ni Ana sa Mata nga Pula are really helpful
to make the people aware of several pressing issues in our society. Using film to expand the
knowledge and understanding of the students has been manifested because of the emergence of
the learning tools.
 References

Brown, S., & Keating, F. (2015). The Film Club: Reflections on the Use of Contemporary Film

to Teach Ethics to Social Work Students. Ethics and Social Welfare, 9(3), 312–321.

https://doi.org/10.1080/17496535.2015.1024155

Ello, L. M. (2007). Older Adult Issues and Experiences Through the Stories and Images of Film.

Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 27(1-2), 271–282.

https://doi.org/10.1300/j067v27n01_17

Scholes, R., Comley, N. R., & Ulmer, G. L. (2002). Text book : writing through literature.

Bedford/St. Martin’s.