Absent

Really sad and really lovely. Beautifully made.. it's a dreamlike movie.

The story goes slow but the growing tension didn't let it be boring for a second.

It's been made very simple, short, yet absolutely complete.

I don't know what's worst: the casting, the acting or the pointless story.

I have watched Marco Berger's Hawaii, his two short stories and Plan B. In that order, so I have watched enough to know that in his works there are always obligatory shots of men's crutches and long quiet scenes...it works in everyone but "The clock" (his first work). So I knew this one was going to have that but I was not expecting terrible actors with no chemistry whatsoever and that includes the secondary actors (terrible teachers) and the insufferable girlfriend. Am I suppose to think the couple love each other? There is no real connection between the actors. And don't get me start about Martin. Am I suppose to root for this lying manipulative tool? Because I don't care about him and his terrible lessons about butterflies (that was painful to watch). I guess the moral of the story is indulge yourself and give the teenage psycho what he wants instead of acting like an adult...what was Sebastian supposed to be sorry for? The only stupid thing he did was being stupid enough not to see that kid was (poorly) lying all along.

Hey, boys and girls! Your new word for the day is "auteur".

An auteur is an artist with a distinctive approach, usually a film director whose filmmaking control is so unbounded and personal that the director is likened to the "author" of the film, thus manifesting the director's unique style or thematic focus.

You can look at a minute of film and know instantaneously if it was made by Alfred Hitchcock. Or Federico Fellini. Or Fritz Lang. Or Agnes Varda. Or Stanley Kubrick. Or Jean-Luc Godard (yowza!).

Marco Berger is an auteur. At the age of 47 (as of August 2025) he has written and directed nine feature films, collaborated on two more, and has just finished his 10th solo feature for release this year.

Yes: I own them all. My personal favourite (so far) is the gloriously lyrical "Hawaii", which may be the single most romantic film ever made.

He established his style and trademarks early on: he takes his time, but there is something to see in every shot no matter the duration; he concentrates on the relationship of two leading characters, or two at a time when there are many more; his screenplays are rich and hilarious when called for, or quiet (sometimes disturbingly so) and introspective, but he only lets you hear what is necessary to hear; he uses colours wisely; his use of music is superb (and has, to date, worked with the same composer on all of his films). He finds utter beauty in the most ordinary-looking men (yes, he is an openly queer director, and his sexual identity finds its way into most - but not all - of his films).

"Ausente", his second feature film, has taken quite a beating here. Why is that? Did you want to see Sebastián fall for Martín's advances? Did you not see or feel the tension between these two characters? Did you not feel Sebastián's grief, not only over Martín's fate but also over how he treated him?

So shut off your Smartphone, chill out, and screen it again and listen and watch closely: is the unexpected death an accident or suicide? And those last shots: fantasies? Memories?

I find it to be a film of almost overwhelming suspense, and, ultimately, profoundly moving.

P. S. It won the Teddy Award for Best Feature Film at the Berlin International Film Festival.

1. Quiet: This is one of the quietest gay theme I've seen so far. Two lead actors, Carlos Echevarría and Javier De Pietro pretty well fit it. But, their feeling and character delivered well by good acting, cinematography, and of course music.

2. Love: Interesting that director and also writer (Marco Berger) share point of view about love between adult and teenager, son and father, underling and boss, employee and director, student and teacher. There is always a gap between that two degrees. Marco Berger choose to combine that two degrees by growing love between student and his sport teacher. I guess everyone ever had some crush to their teacher but the tricky point, not everyone, just a few who dared taking chances step the line and take actions to get to know their teacher in very close way. The extreme part, to make love with their teacher. There are differences between crush and love. But, what I see in this film more than just crush. I guess Martín already know his teacher Sebastián far from just become his sport teacher. That's why he was taking chances to get to know his teacher closely by lying.

3. The Truth: Being lying there are always consequences. The fact that Sebastián was straight and he sense something "wrong" with Martín, he made some wall to keep him stay away from Martín. The truth end up tragic. Sebastián loose control and beat Martín because he cannot accept that facts that Martín lying to him and abuse his trust and kindness. Martín fall apart but hold himself to keep it up and prevent Sebastián being fired from school.

4. Forgiveness: I think there is no connection between Martín accident to his "break up" with Sebastián. Just a big coincidence. A very big coincidence. Sometimes, accident happen, but death is always the worst part. Sebastián turn to fall apart. Martín absence was killing him form inside. He take some of it as his fault. He break school's swimming pool window and drinking. His mind trying to cope that situation by imaginary of Martín still alive. He was sorry and Martín just smile. It was enough for him.

Addition, I don't think that event turn Sebastián become gay. After all, he is trying not be ignorance man anymore.

This is not a review for this particular film, rather a guide for those who would like to watch it. Marco Berger (the director) is notorious for his slow-paced films with very simple and thin plots, and "Absent" is not an exception. Before trying this one, please get familiar with his cinematic style by watching his other works such as Hawaii (his best and easiest one to watch), Taekwondo and The Blonde One. After that you may appreciate this film more. I didn't rate it high but I think it's worth a try if you want something refreshing.