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The Absent

The Absent

Representation Score

7.7/10

Good

2014

Not Rated

Director

Nicolás Pereda

Runtime

80 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film is a minimalist exploration of isolation and the erosion of personal space. It avoids obvious identity markers, favoring a postmodern look at existence and marginality. While it doesn't emphasize traditional character's ability to drive the story or plot resolution, it excels in depicting the tension between individuals and an encroaching modern world, challenging the idea of inevitable capitalist progress.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Absent have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film doesn't show clear examples of same-sex relationships or non-traditional gender identities. However, it focuses on ambiguous connections between characters, which can be interpreted as non-traditional relationships.

How does The Absent portray gender?

Fair

The story revolves around male characters engaging in domestic life and shared routines. It challenges traditional masculine roles by showing men being vulnerable and involved in household tasks rather than heroic actions.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Absent?

Good

Set in a remote area of Mexico, the film highlights local identities. While it avoids Western homogenization, the minimalist approach limits deeper exploration of overlapping racial and cultural identities.

How does The Absent represent religion and culture?

Good

The story critiques the impact of modern capitalism on personal autonomy. It portrays the struggle for family stability as a quiet resistance against societal changes.

Does The Absent include disability representation?

Fair

The film does not explicitly feature characters with visible or invisible disabilities. Instead, it explores themes of existential loneliness and alienation without focusing on specific disabilities.

Present on Screen

  • Challenges traditional masculine clichés by highlighting domestic labor and vulnerability.
  • Presents a localized, non-Anglo-Saxon perspective through its Mexican setting.
  • Provides a nuanced critique of systemic displacement and modern capital.

Limited or Absent

  • Doesn't include clear representations of LGBTQ+ or non-traditional gender identities.
  • Limited exploration of specific, empowered disability representation.
  • Minimalist style hinders deeper examination of multi-layered racial dynamics.

Official Synopsis

An old man lives alone in a shabby cabin in a remote mountainous area of Mexico. His house is set to be demolished in order to facilitate the redevelopment of the area. He doesn't know how to protect his house. Time goes by and one day a young man shows up on his doorstep. Looking exhausted, he starts his new routine here, cooking and doing laundry just like the old man.

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