Customer Reviews

En Tu Ausencia

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

A coming-of-age tale with more than a few twists, director Ivan Noel's debut makes superb use of its setting--the gorgeous rolling hills and verdant fields of Andalusia in southern Spain--to underscore young Pablo's (a note-perfect Gonzalo Sanchez Salas) discovery of secrets, both about himself as a growing lad haunted by his father's death, and about his family in general.

While his put-upon mom tries to make ends meet, Pablo--whose father died in an accident, the nature of which is only revealed gradually in flashbacks--roams the fecund countryside, frequently accompanied by his vastly more mature tomboy friend Julia (spark-plug Ana Tutor, in a star-making performance). Alone one day, he comes across a man, Paco, (Francisco Alfonsin) lounging beside his broken-down car. A conversation is started and then interrupted by the nosey local postman, who warns Pablo about strange men. The postman gone, the conversation resumes--and where it leads shakes Pablo and everyone around him to the core.

Director Noel shoots the gloriously sunlit countryside around the village of Jerez with the eye of a painter while showing his expertise at playing with audience expectations. It is this sure-handed way with what turns out to be a surprising narrative, the naturalism of the local townspeople in their first acting roles, and the almost dangerous sensuality of the cinematography, that marks In Your Absence as a very impressive first film.

THIS IS THE OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN AMAZON'S LISTING:

13-year-old Pablo is a quiet, lonely boy with a troubled past. His only friend is Julia, a shameless 15-year-old girl who is more than willing to help Pablo with his transition from childhood to adolescence, and give him some advice on sex, love and life in general. On a quiet country road just outside of the village, Pablo meets Paco, an oddly calm, well dressed stranger whose car just broke down. Nevertheless, he seems more interested in the boy than fixing his problem. At first Pablo maintains a cautious distance from the stranger, vaguely heeding his fellow villagers' advice to keep his distance. However, the boy's subconscious quest to find understanding of his dark past and guilt makes him lose all of his protective layers. He sees a new friend in Paco; someone he can open up to and feel valued by almost like a replacement father. As Pablo's affection grows for the man, he is unknowingly and blindly being lead toward a tragedy that will scar him for life.

What starts out seemingly as an intergenerational love story between a shy, lonely 13 year old living with his mother in the Spanish countryside and an older man just passing through eventually becomes something else altogether. I compare this film favorably to Wild Tigers I Have Known, another coming of age story told in long, painterly takes, except that this movie, with the help of its filming locations, is even more beautiful to look at. Quick research tells me that this is the director's first film, and I can only hope there is more to come. The acting is wonderful, especially considering that most of the young cast are novices. A truly heartbreaking story which refuses to give a pat Hollywood ending (though some sense of closure would have been nice, but that is my only gripe). I found myself so taken with Pablo in this story, and wanting him to heal the wounds he is carrying around with him. In the end, we don't know whether he does or not, and that was more tragic than all that had come before. If you love a deep story, great and pristene images of Spain, and a slight but well crafted mystery, then do not miss this film. Spread the word!

This movie was a big surprise. I had seen the trailer and thought I knew what to expect, but was completely blown by the fantastic photography and by Gonzalo Sanchez Sala's performance. It is a history of a boy that needs to be loved, with ghosts hunting him from the past. Sexual awakening, fear and treason.
The director is able to make the mundane scenes into delicate art, pay extra attention to the morning scene of the boy in bed.
This is a must see, must have. It is a shame that it didn't make the big screens. Thank you Spain for allowing your movies to express this kind of art.

If I had any pre-conceived notions about this film before I watched it, they were completely blown out of the water by what I saw.

Paco comes to a small village in Spain, and finds himself stranded on the roadside when his car breaks down. By accident or by design, he first meets Pablo. Pablo's father has recently been killed in an accident that Pablo very much blames himself for. So when Paco is kind and understanding, it only serves to remind Pablo of what a cruel and unforgiving man his father had been. Paco manages to develop a relationship with the boy, while keeping up the pretence that he's come to this village to find Pablo's father, who was an old Army buddy. Meanwhile, the entire village is buzzing with gossip about this stranger in town, and his odd attachment to a thirteen year old local boy.

Pablo, at thirteen, is confused by his adolescent sexual feelings. His friend Julia, a bit older and more sexually mature, presents young Pablo with his first sexual encounter, and that only serves to deepen Pablo's confusion. But he begins to realise that his attraction to Paco may be more than parental. He's developed something of a crush on the kind stranger. So he decides to offer himself to the older man, and is surprised when his offer is refused. His confusion about Paco is cleared up when he discovers the man in bed with someone else, and overhears their conversation, where it is explained that Paco was indeed a friend of Pablo's late father. Something I don't think Pablo had quite believed. And Pablo's heart is broken to find that Paco is in love with someone else in the village, not him. In a fit of jealous rage and deep pain over being deceived, Pablo decides to shoot Paco with his father's shotgun.

The film ends with a scene depicting Pablo and Paco years later, as Paco tries to explain that he has forgiven the boy. But what seems evident is that Pablo has not forgiven Paco for the apparent deception. He seems to have grown into a sad and lonely adult. And we are left to wonder whether he ever sorted out his sexual identity.

EN TU AUSENCIA is filmed in the most beautiful locations, with a brilliant cast, and surprisingly well put together for a low-budget, independent film. I highly recommend this movie.

Spanish films (and indeed many European films) hold an extra attraction for me in that they can deal with awkward subject matters without the sensationalism or excessive moralising that seems to pervade most American mainstream films. This film features fine acting - especially by the two main protagonists - and a plot which constantly has you second guessing in the wrong direction. Some may find it's hinting at paedophilia and the boy's nudity a little disturbing. In context, it is not, and you soon realise that that aspect of the boy's behaviour being 'disturbing' is also echoed by the main male lead. As often makes a good plot, there is the element of misunderstanding and characters taking the wrong message. A totally thought provoking film.

This film is beautifully acted and the story is told with a quiet, engaging style, but I had to lower my rating due to the melodramatic final act, where one of the characters undergoes a radical reversal in personality that wasn't even hinted at beforehand. (If anything, an opposite impression is driven home relentlessly.) At that moment all believability was gone and I felt as though I'd been manipulated for the sake of the screenwriter's indulgence.

Still, I can recommend "En Tu Ausencia" for all its positive attributes and I don't regret watching it. The music soundtrack is also worth mentioning because it is so omnipresent and evocative, almost like another character in the film. But why the story had to take such an abrupt and aggravating turn at the end is a mystery.

This beautifully filmed and acted offering tells of a youngster whose father has died in circumstances which become clear eventually, and who encounters a seemingly kind man with whom he forms a friendship and in whom he hopes to find a surrogate father. It looks at first as if this is going to end in tears, and so it does, but not for the reasons one expects: for there are deceptions and mixed messages aplenty. Ultimately the boy is betrayed by this man, and also by his mother; and though the villagers try to protect him he is on his own. A gem of a performance from the boy, as also from the rather older and more mature girl who is all set to show him what sex is all about, to his confusion. I don't think this is a coming-of-age film so much as one of love and betrayal. Beautiful, at times life-affirming, but finally sad, I loved it!

Well made comming to age movie, with a great ending, cerntaly a little jewel of movie, I would like to see more like this one.

One of the best movies I have seen in a very long time. A little slow taking off (after the self-fulling enjoyment sceene at the opening) but once it gets going, it's a wild roller coaster ride of emotions, love, hatred, betrayal, and anxiety. The young actor has a natural talent for expressions and body language that adds to the movie. A definate DO for the list of movies to watch.

Its a good production,it has that "independent film" feel to it, the only drawback is that you have to wait till the end of the movie to find out the climax of the movie, before that the movie just drags a bit and no many hints as of who this stranger is and Why he is there.And one thing that is open to the viewers imagination is that you're not sure if the boy has a crush on the stranger or just looks up to him as a role model.