En tu ausencia

The director says for this first film he gave his all, sold his house and spent $500,000 to make it with mostly non-actors in a beautiful part of Andalucia. Noel is good with the camera, with landscape, with improvisation, and with music, which he composed (he plays guitar). He uses simple elements, a mysterious man arriving with a broken-down car, a 13-year old boy missing a father, a flirty girl, a nosy postman--but the drama becomes quite complicated.

I'm not sure all the dots get connected or all final tragedies are necessary, but the ambiguous situation of the boy bonding with the man and the suspicious villagers feels original.

The director came to Spain (from where?) and settled in Andalucia 13 years ago to study Flamenco guitar. He has a recording studio, composes and plays multiple instruments, and also teaches music and drama in schools. The young actors in the film including his talented teen star Gonzalo Sanchez Salas, he trained in acting workshops for months before shooting the film.

'En tu ausencia' was in some festivals including Vancouver (2008) and Palm Springs (2009) but went straight to DVD in the US. It would be nice if Noel were able to make more features after this promising beginning.

In the context of the "world wide cinema" intellectual recession - this film stands out as a gem. The movie must not be told in any details prior to watching it-is my view. Comments around the technical aspect of movie making should be harmless though: Having to disposal high tech digital equipment these days - I would have expected more of an art work/play around the nude scenes, body shapes and more attention to lighting elsewhere. At this level of an art - more play with lights would further benefit the overall appearance of the movie which otherwise is well outside of the guttersnipes' consumption anyway. At times the contrasts on faces were on the "sharp side of things". Employing "counter soft" lighting would give that extra feel of excellently made portraits. That's on technical side of things. The film stands still firm at 10 points though since “Rambo” style movies gets also the same scores :-). Majority of films on the subject are made based on the far reaching consultations with the psycho/sociological professional teams. The result of such “out of touch with reality” studies is always a sterile movie. Such movies are indeed analytical at best. To describe this movie as such ( as i read here and there) is a brave business to provoke to be laughed at. In my view, it is not possible to make this movie without the natural inspiration on the theme flowing from within the director's heart. It almost feels as if it is an autobiographical story although the director doesn’t say that. How otherwise one could know what is inside an adolescent ripped apart by the fate. And all of it in such minute details? This film is what an art is all about and it is great news to hear that the director is working on another movie around the same theme. In the event - I can’t wait to see his "Brecha". ”En tu aucencia” is an absolute must to see. Well, at least by the better part of our society members.

As a lover of the Andalusian countryside and people 'En Tu Ausenia' was an essential movie to see and I was not disappointed. The photography and rawness of the actors (all novices, I believe) added to a delicate coming of age storyline of family and human awareness, sensitively directed by Ivan Noel. The cast of locals brought such a natural realism to the story that at times I felt I was actually there! The music interpreted and complimented each scene so perfectly.. (I hope the music is one day released on CD) The visual beauty of the movie, along with the engaging storyline and creative directing (is Sr. Noel a cinematic disciple of Monet?)makes 'En Tu Ausenia' a must see ..especially for the followers of independent Spanish movies.

I read a so-called 'review' below, which seems inspired by some bizarre personal grudge, rather than lucidity. Better they stick to 'Spiderman', and leave indie reviews for others. I have followed the course of this spectacularly beautiful film since it first came out. But just sticking to facts: I doubt the film would have been selected over tens of thousands of other films in the most important festivals of the world, if it had been 'amateur'! What a silly comment. Seattle, Vancouver, Palm Springs, it was voted one of the top films in Vancouver. Reviews have been outstanding right across the board, by professional critics in various countries. What is most striking about the film is the amazing naturalness of the acting, which they all refer to. So when one refers to 'skit' level acting, it is clear they are either an envious failed director, or have another agenda. The screenplay itself is one of the most sensitive portrayals of youth I have come across, full of subtleties, which, yes, I can see some more 'hollywood-style' persons might not catch on to. Well done Mr Noel, and ignore the sub-standard reviews like the one below. IMDb is a free and very 'popular' medium where the lowest minds even try to contribute. If the trailer is anything to go by, his second film looks to be even more promising. I'll leave you with what they said on the films first showing: '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.'

Wonderfully absorbing film, beautifully shot in southern Spain with some subtlety simple performances from what are by all accounts local people. The landscape compositions are that of a painter and the use of light outstanding. Yes, I really love this film.

It is a shame therefore to have to make adverse criticisms. The film was shot over a period of one year. That is a long time but especially so when your lead actor is eleven years old. Couple that with some glaring continuity errors: The boy's socks change colour within the same scene on several occasions.

As for the ambiguity I would not criticize that; it forces the viewer to think. I don't understand Spanish so I suspect I'm missing out on quite a lot, but then the film couldn't really have been made anywhere else, such are the locations so integral to the whole.