Absences (Apousies) is a spare, claustrophobic, Bergman-esque study of an emotionally constipated family on the brink of dissolution. Co-written, co-produced and directed by Giorgos Katakouzinos (1943-2013), known primarily for his controversial 1982 hit, Angel, reportedly the first openly gay Greek film, this allegorical story examines the dormant existence of three sisters living alone on the estate of their recently deceased father. Set on the eve of the First World War, the film somberly depicts the last vestiges of a decayed and decadent society—embodied by the father's lavish, imprudent lifestyle, whose resulting financial, moral and spiritual burden has fractured the psyches of those forced to bear it. This moving drama benefits greatly from Stamatis Spanoudakis's soulful score and Tassos Alexakis's gracefully intimate photography, which help expose its underlying core of sadness and regret.
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