Ausente (2011)

Director:

Marco Berger

Writer:

Marco Berger

Release Date:

27 July 2011 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Martin, a young Spanish student, is exploring the reactions of his sports coach, Sebastian, while vying for his love and affection...

Plot Keywords:

Fall From Height | Hit In The Face | Gay Student | Teenage Crush | Unrequited Love

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Carlos Echevarría	...	Sebastián
Javier De Pietro	...	Martín
Antonella Costa	...	Mariana
Rocío Pavón	...	Analía
Alejandro Barbero	...	Juan Pablo

Directed by
Marco Berger

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Marco Berger

Produced by
Marco Berger	....	executive producer
Mariana Contreras	....	executive producer
Pablo Ingercher Casas	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Pedro Irusta

Cinematography by
Tomas Perez Silva

Film Editing by
Marco Berger

Production Design by
Tomás Pérez Silva

Art Direction by
Paula Lombardi

Makeup Department
Florencia Cacciola	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Santiago Acardi	....	production director

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
María Fernández Aramburu	....	assistant director
Laura Fuente	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Clara Camarra	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Carolina Canevaro	....	sound director
Federico Gonzales	....	microphone operator
Daniel Mosquera	....	post-production sound
Ana Mouriño	....	post-production sound
Mercedes Tennina	....	post-production sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Nahuel Berger	....	still photographer
Tomas Casenave	....	gaffer
Sergio Claudio	....	electrician
Paolo Girem	....	focus puller
Florencia Manca	....	assistant camera

Other crew
Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar	....	production assistant
María José Freire	....	assistant location manager
Roxana Surrante	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Instituto Nacional de Cine y Artes Audiovisuales (INCAA) (support)
• Oh My Gomez! Films

Distributors

• PRO-FUN media Filmverleih (2011) (Germany) (all media)
• PRO-FUN media Filmverleih (2011) (Austria) (all media)
• PRO-FUN media Filmverleih (2011) (Switzerland) (all media)
• Bodega Films (2011) (France) (theatrical)
• Homescreen (2011) (Belgium) (all media) (2011)
• Homescreen (2011) (Netherlands) (all media)

Also Known As:

"Absent" - International (English title) (imdb display title)
"Absent" - France (imdb display title)
"Ausente" - Brazil (festival title)
"Ausente - Assente" - Italy (imdb display title)
"Nieobecny" - Poland (imdb display title)

Runtime:

Germany:87 min | Argentina:90 min

Country:

Argentina

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | France:U

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Company:

Instituto Nacional de Cine y Artes Audiovisuales (INCAA)

Fell in love with "PLAN B" (a Romance)...BUT this.......

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

.....Latest Work is so very much the opposite (well, perhaps there's a "tinge" of romantic love). Instead, we're being given: A Crush-love...almost a Stalkerish-love.

(( In comparison, "Absent" is the more accomplished production....both in camera work and locations-wise. And as in the earlier film, here the Co-leads and supporting actors also cannot be faulted. Javier De Pietro, as Gay-aware, swim team student Martin Blanco, delivers an admiral first film performance as a late-teens man, who is "crushing" on his team coach. Martin has a "Plan" (but...unlike in Director Berger's preceding film, no alternative, Plan B has even been thought of). Single-minded and intensely focused, our Martin has set his sights on placing himself in his team coach's very own bed. Next, as our unsuspecting object of affection (I mean, obsession), we have the attractive, student-oriented Coach Sebastian Armas (Carlos Echevarria, an experienced actor of some 12 films). This actor ably paints a picture for us of a serious and never smiling, heterosexual(?) man, who is much concerned for those under his charge.....and possessing no(?) interest in the Gay lifestyle. ))

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS:

- The opening credits camera shots, and especially the soundtrack, seem meant to be ominous in nature and apparently have been structured to forewarn where this film is heading. They consist of lingering, closeup angles of young Martin's striking and sexily hairy body. All this in the guise of a sports program physical exam (oh, of course). Continuing this fascination with Martin's body....later, after our young trainee has manipulated his way into his coach's home, various often intentional and provocative poses of Martin, in near undress, are provided by our Director....culminating in an early morning, "touchy-feely" visit to Sebastian's bed, as he lies sleeping.

- We are given long, sometimes static, film minutes (more than one-tenth film's running time) spent in an automobile front seat. Our Co-leads driving from place to place, as required by the storyline. These are uncomfortable (yet probably realistic) times spent together...with little dialog. Similarly, there are MANY other coach/trainee interactions where one might expect easy chatter/conversation. BUT such does not occur...and that is not what I would expect to happen between a dedicated coach and those he is mentoring...but perhaps such is not the case in countries outside the U.S.

- Young Martin appears not to interact with swimteam mates in a normal, youthful manner...and is shown to roam pool changing rooms, in the hopes of seeing other young men in stages of undress.

- After unsuccessful attempts to get closer to Sebastian during that night spent at the Coach's home, and perhaps ashamed of his actions, Martin quickly owns up. He does so in a note left for Sebastian, reading that he had contrived the overnight stay (but he does not specifically spell out what his aim had been). From that point, Martin begins distancing himself, even to missing training sessions. Then occurs an uncomfortable scene in which Coach and his girlfriend (yes, he has one) take seats in a cinema, unaware that Martin and a young female acquaintance are already seated there. One seat separating the 2 men, (as the Director has planned for), we suspensefully wait for awareness of each other to hit the fan. Somewhat later, their relationship climaxes (yes, I use that word) in a face to face confrontation: Martin openly admits to his plan for a "hoped-for seduction". ....And Sebastian, realizing the untenable position in which he had been placed, directs a blow to Martin's face, and angry words are exchanged.

- Shortly thereafter, Tragedy Strikes.

We will never know this film's "What Might Have Been". Perhaps even Director Marco Berger cannot know. BUT....in the story's closing 20 minutes, we find ourselves being carried along, within Sebastian's innermost mind, as he is living out each day--though he is acting as in a near-trance. Then, startlingly, we begin experiencing "What Might Have Been" memories of past times spent with Martin (but happening as Sebastian wishes they "might" have occurred). Closing shots take place with the Coach revisiting the darkened poolhouse. Then follows a final scene of our Co-leads (yes, both) seeking and finding one another in the semi-darkness: ....a Sweet Kiss....an Admission of Regret....a Request for Forgiveness. And we see, for the very first time in this unhappy film, a tender smile appear on the face of Sebastian.

PS--Oh, face it....I want Romance! (M. B. does it so well)

****