This study explores the linguistics phenomena in interaction regarding the politeness strategies employed by male and female characters in delivering directive utterances in the movie Flipped. Politeness strategy is used by the speakers to make the utterances appropriate to say to others. This study aims to examine the types of directive utterances expressed by the characters, the politeness strategies employed by male and female characters in directive utterances, and the social context that encompasses relative power and social distance as the important factors that influence the speakers to employ politeness strategies.

This study uses a pragmatic approach focusing on politeness strategy in directive utterances. This study belongs to descriptive qualitative research that is supported by four major stages of analysis that encompasses domain analysis, taxonomy analysis, componential analysis, and cultural theme analysis. The data are taken from the dialogue that contains directive utterances expressed by male and female characters.

The result shows that there are 8 types of directive utterances expressed by male characters, namely questioning, ordering, inviting, requesting, suggesting, forbidding, begging, and warning. Meanwhile, female characters produce 7 types of directives that are questioning, ordering, inviting, requesting, suggesting, forbidding, and begging. This study also reveals that all types of politeness strategies are employed by both male and female characters. However, male characters implemented a bald-on-record strategy much more than female characters. It shows that men speak more direct than women. Finally, this study reveals that power and distance influence the choice of politeness strategies by the speakers.