A Ausência Que Seremos

Very mediocre film that lacks script. Mediocre directing and editing. The only remarkable thing is Javier Camara's and Patricia Tamayo's acting.

The story of Hector Abad Gomez is moving and a perfect example of what has meant to be a thoughtful and honest leader in a country like Colombia, but the movie is not the most interesting portray of that struggle, and tries to be faithful to the book forgetting that cinema is already a new language and therefore a new opportunity to tell a story.

I struggled with this question while I was watching the movie, you feel different emotions while reading the book and other completely different watching the movie. Sometimes what happens in the book is not entirely portraited in the movie. Rating the movie leaving behind the novel, is a story very important to know for me as a colombian, and for a foreigner is momentous.

The story line was clear and the director played with the B&W and colored cinematography to execute the transition between the different stages of Hector Jr life. Taking into account the decades, the scenery and costumes where nicely built with some points to improve. Some of the most emotional scenes were strongly performed and filmed, you could feel and get to that moment of catarsis.

Stories like these need to be well known and I think cinema is a really great way to do it.

This film represents a reality in Latin American countries, where small elite groups manage politics and make decisions that affect many for their own benefits and economic interests, countries where a football game is promoted more than the importance of a good education, countries where few have all and most of the population nothing. Latin America has suffered since its conquest (NO DISCOVERY) in the 16th century and still continues to suffer new wounds while trying to heal the old ones. I have seen it and continue to see it in Honduras. Thank you for making this type of film, as well as "La Llorona" by Jayro Bustamante, cuz they allow these stories not to be lost as the intellectual authors of these crimes would like, they also help us to cure Latin America but do not forget. The technical aspect that I appreciated the most about the film was the black and white photography, really beautiful.

Last Week...If You had said to me: "Tony...I have never seen a Colombian Movie! Please recommend one!" "Just ONE???" I would have responded... "Sorry... But there ARE SEVERAL!" After experiencing EL OLVIDO, twice in recent days... Without flinching a microsecond, I have found my MISSION in life: Getting every human on Earth to do the same!

"You are Sooooooooo INTENSE!" BOTH My only daughter AND my Colombian wife often tell me! Of course, they are right! When you feel PASSION about something...ANYTHING... You know You are STILL ALIVE! EL OLVIDO is the most intensely Colombian film I have EVER seen! Yet, simultaneously, one of the most universal and HUMAN! And You certainly don't have to have lived in Colombia for 1/2 of the 70's & 80's, as I did, to appreciate just how SPECIAL EL OLVIDO really is!

University Profesor Hector Abad Gomez (Fleshed out stunningly by Spaniard Javier Camara...with an absolutely impeccable regional Colombian accent, I must add!) refuses to be labeled. Nevertheless, almost everyone on the right defines him as "Comunista!" or "Marxista!" Conversely, hardcore Leftists slur him as "Oligarca!" But Profesor Abad ostensibly is not really phased by being the object of intense hatred from both ends of the political spectrum. He forges ahead, living life one day at a time, speaking truth to power, completely intransigent in the face of ever mounting pressure to keep his outspoken opinions to himself!

I am an IMDb.com junky! Here is my "KISS ENGLISH CHALLENGE!" Find ME ONE OTHER film with well over 1,000 votes, where LESS than 3% of viewers have Rated it 4**** STARS or LESS!!!.... Good Luck! My CHALLENGE is going to keep you very busy for quite a while!

10********** For My NEW FAVORITE SPANISH LANGUAGE FILM!

ENJOY! / DISFRUTELA!