The Absences (2023)

Juan José Gorasurreta's life is filled with cinematic memories. In his new film, the influential film society programmer re-examines the movies that shaped him, seeking connections between them and his own life, Argentina's history, and the world of cinema. *The Absences* weaves together his travels with figures like Orson Welles and Fernando Birri, historical events such as the Cordobazo and the Trelew Massacre, personal relationships with Eva Landeck and Carlos Echeverría, and experiences with censorship, film societies, and the Malvinas War, alongside his own short films. Initially appearing random, these elements gradually coalesce into a compelling and logical narrative. Gorasurreta himself describes *The Absences* as a portrait of how Argentine history and his relationship with film have shaped his most sensitive experiences.