Semiotics in Anthropological Film

It seems to me that semiotics, in the realm of television, is highly convoluted. The language of TV, and film, includes not only the signs and what is signified by them, but the intent of the creators--which can be entirely different than what the audience interprets signs to mean. The meaning that is derived from all these signs depends on one's place in the culture that is being represented. Without having learned these signs and what they signify from a young age, the medium has no explicit meaning. Semiotics becomes more interesting to consider when one is not a member of the culture that is being represented. Ben Russell, a filmmaker who majored in Semiotics as an undergrad, made this film:

vimeo.com/39846969

The film follows two brothers in Suriname, and attempts to erase any sort of "film language" from the experience. It is presented in real time, as the camera captures it. The viewer is left to interpret what he or she sees outside of language conventions--be they spoken or filmed.