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Absent

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This movie is currently playing at film festivals.

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Synopsis

A calculating high school student attempts to seduce his somewhat older swimming instructor in this tense sexual drama.

Review

Fresh from his fascinating - if controversial - 2009 debut film, Plan B, Argentinian filmmaker Marco Berger continues his focus on hitherto heterosexual men who develop feelings for other men.

Knowingly, even aggressively sexual, 16-year-old Martin (newcomer Javier De Pietro) locks his seductive sights on Sebastian (Carlos Echevarria), his recently engaged, 30-something swimming instructor.

Faking an injury, Martin eventually tricks his teacher into letting him spend the night at his apartment. As Sebastian begins to realize the possible sexual interest on the part of his student, he is conflicted. He is dismissive, but his curiosity is piqued by the boy’s overt advances. An extraordinary event soon forces the increasingly troubled Sebastian to question his own feelings for young Martin.

Absent is not a simple boy-meets-boy drama. It’s a taut, and at times, incredible sexy drama of repressed passion, guilt and regret. There are no easy answers in this edgy sexual thriller that won the Teddy Award for Best Feature Film at the 2011 Berlin Film Festival.

-- Raymond Murray