The looming threat of the extraordinarily rapid urbanization and development of China at the expense of its people has been one of the favorite themes in Chinese independent films and documentaries. Director Wu Lang adds a poetic and esthetic element to the discourse with his film “Absence”, that premiered at Berlinale in the festival's Encounters section, following a previous short film with the same title, a similar plot and the same high-profile cast including Lee Kang-Sheng (best-known for his frequent collaborations with Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-Liang) and Li Meng.

Absence is screening at Five Flavours

Han Jiangyu (Lee Kang-Sheng) is back in town after serving 10 years in prison, due to his connection with a local real estate crook and he timidly tries to reconnect with his past and figure out what happened during his absence. His first move towards his past life is a haircut and the reason is that...