2d plane controls

As for fun i like to take something from a movie and make a replicate it for me, im trying to make the scene form space balls were the character is using the radar to go in the ear of the statue. But i cant figure out how to make a simple rotation that will go in the direction of the character facing. Like i said simple and yet dont know why it wont work. Please help me to fix this problem of mine. Here is a picture of the scene im trying to replicate.