FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY

SY. 2023-2024 | 3rd Year | 1st Semester

Maria Criselda P. Tuazon

1 Scene: When Marisa was looking at the mirror, then when she moved out of the frame a
figure of what seems to be the devil appeared.

Visual Device: Visual As Foreshadowing

Explanation: The figure of the devil indicates what the story is about and gives us a hint of
how the story could go from there. Also the placing of the devil, being behind Marina could
equate as an alter ego or a part of Marisa’s characterization.

2 Scene: Marisa’s old and eerie barrio house

Visual Device: Visual As Interesting Setting

Explanation: The whole film was shot only in one setting, as the character secludes herself
from the rest of the community. The only connection Marisa has with the outside world are
her patients, but she is only seen outside her house when she’s sweeping or watering the
plants. Nevertheless, the house is the only place where the whole story progresses. And the
way it looks old, rustic at the same time eerie contributes to the narrative.

3 Scene: The whole routine of Marisa in every patient: opening and welcoming them from the
door, closing of the windows, assisting patients to wear a white dress, damping of towels,
blood dripping in the legs of the table, washing of her hands filled with blood, walking up the
stairs with a bowl of the fetus and blood, pouring the extra blood in the bell.

Visual Device: Visual As Recurring Theme or Motif

Explanation: The repetition of these actions further emphasize the way of living of Marisa. It
establishes the notion that the act of aborting has become habitual and pedestrian for her that
she follows a certain step or routine.

4 Scene: The appearance of Mama Mary’s wall hanging portrait and Crucifix around the house.

Visual Device: Visual As Irony

Explanation: For a movie to possess a dark storyline and be set in a place where evil
succumbs, it’s ironic to see religious images and figurines hanging on a wall. Let alone it is
Mama Mary and the story has to do with motherhood.
5 Scene: When Marissa was dusting the house, she heard a movement from the background,
her gaze went immediately behind and appearing in the dark was the same thing at the mirror,
a “devil” looking figure.

Visual Device: Visual As Background

Explanation: The suspense in that scene was at first you would think Marisa is looking back
at nothing when she heard a rustle from behind. But later on, you can spot the figure from the
side. It is not directly implied but if the audience has a keen eye they would put two for two
and analyze what that brief moment speaks about. That scene and the one in the mirror could
signify that Marisa is always shadowed or watched by the devil.

6 Scene: Flowers Dying

Visual Device: Visual As Metaphor/Symbolism

Explanation: At the beginning of the film, the flowers outside of Marisa’s house are still at
blossom, but towards the climax of the story, the camera cuts into the same bushes of flowers
and they seem to be withered. That could implicitly show how slowly life is taken away from
the house and the characters.

7 Scene: Marisa smothering blood in the bell, The person held captive with a chain.

Visual Device: Visual As Props

Explanation: The bell and chain could be considered as accessories of the characters. They
are attached to what Marisa and supposedly her “son” are. The bell is rung each time a patient
arrives, it is like a signal for Marisa to get into her spirit as an abortionist. And the chain tells
that whatever he is is something fearful and needs to be never shone in the light.

8 Scene: When Rutchel barged in the house and found out about the truth of Marisa’s life.

Visual Device: Visual As Bomb

Explanation: The reappearance of Rutchel, the last woman Marisa assisted, drew the
revelation of Marisa’s character. Her barging in and seeing what’s inside one of the rooms of
the house completely shifted the story and shaken the core of the characters.

9 Scene: Devil or the evil figure hiding at day, showing at night.

Visual Device: Visual As Time of Day

Explanation: Majority of the film was shot at day, even the procedures were all done at
daylight. Each time the devil appears on the background or “the son” is shown it is either a
quick cut or the lighting is set on low key for the face not to flash. However in one of the
scenes, where Marisa is sleeping, in a split second, a bloody face came into the frame. It
could emphasize that evil lurks more in the dark and is only a shadow at day.

10 Scene: Rutchel getting dropped by blood coming from the ceiling.

Explanation: On the scene after Rutchel’s undergoing the procedure, as she was about to
walk out of the house, she got stopped from a sudden drop of blood on her face. She looked
up and saw there was blood seeping through the wooden ceiling. This is considerably a
foreshadowing of her death at the end.