If I had any pre-conceived notions about this film before I watched it, they were completely blown out of the water by what I saw.Paco comes to a small village in Spain, and finds himself stranded on the roadside when his car breaks down. By accident or by design, he first meets Pablo. Pablo's father has recently been killed in an accident that Pablo very much blames himself for. So when Paco is kind and understanding, it only serves to remind Pablo of what a cruel and unforgiving man his father had been. Paco manages to develop a relationship with the boy, while keeping up the pretence that he's come to this village to find Pablo's father, who was an old Army buddy. Meanwhile, the entire village is buzzing with gossip about this stranger in town, and his odd attachment to a thirteen year old local boy.Pablo, at thirteen, is confused by his adolescent sexual feelings. His friend Julia, a bit older and more sexually mature, presents young Pablo with his first sexual encounter, and that only serves to deepen Pablo's confusion. But he begins to realise that his attraction to Paco may be more than parental. He's developed something of a crush on the kind stranger. So he decides to offer himself to the older man, and is surprised when his offer is refused. His confusion about Paco is cleared up when he discovers the man in bed with someone else, and overhears their conversation, where it is explained that Paco was indeed a friend of Pablo's late father. Something I don't think Pablo had quite believed. And Pablo's heart is broken to find that Paco is in love with someone else in the village, not him. In a fit of jealous rage and deep pain over being deceived, Pablo decides to shoot Paco with his father's shotgun.The film ends with a scene depicting Pablo and Paco years later, as Paco tries to explain that he has forgiven the boy. But what seems evident is that Pablo has not forgiven Paco for the apparent deception. He seems to have grown into a sad and lonely adult. And we are left to wonder whether he ever sorted out his sexual identity.EN TU AUSENCIA is filmed in the most beautiful locations, with a brilliant cast, and surprisingly well put together for a low-budget, independent film. I highly recommend this movie.