1) Re the length of the film. As far as I am aware, there is NO other version other than the 99min one. I do believe the 134min version was a printing mistake. The directors cut IS 134mins long, but has never been released, to my knowledge.
2) Was the film censored? Censorship takes place from the moment the film is written. One cannot write all of reality in a script because child actors live in our western society. I used to masturbate on trees as a kid. I guess that was both odd and interesting. But can I tell that?
Censorship also happens during a shoot. Editors and other responsible people will choose certain shots according to what they feel is ‘acceptable’.
Then there is the censorship at the distribution level. Yes the film did have more daring scenes in its first cut, but ones that were almost automatically manipulated to avoid ‘problems’.
There was nudity, but, finally, the decision not to include it was taken by myself on the basis that what this nudity MEANT in the script, the use it had in the storyline, would simply get completely lost to other ways of seeing the scene which are specific to out society and time (anything from disgust, shock, outrage, to calling the cops). It was narratively just not worth wrecking the natural rhythm of the film for this. In the 70’s in France this would have fitted in well into the story, not nowadays …But, well, even with the ‘gentle’ version, people in England STILL walked out on it!
3) Piracy: someone above asked me to explain how much money we indie directors/producers/writers make from a film, in order to make people understand the bad of pirating a movie. The fact is, I did sell my house and belongings to make this film, and I have not earned ANYTHING back on it at all yet.
The facts are simple: my film can be downloadable even viewable anywhere for no money at all. I have lost all I had in the belief it was a good idea making this film. Piracy totally destroys such projects.
I am sickened, absolutely appalled by those so-called ‘defensors’ of freedom who claim it is a good idea to ’share’ files online. They are despicable, ignorant people. Sure these big companies need to be woken up to their abuses, but I am a perfect example of one whose Art has been wrecked by pirates from the start, before my career could even start properly.
I am VERY grateful to those who actually purchased the DVD, and for their support, but there are 4 google pages where one can buy or rent my film, and about 40 pages where one can downlaod it without paying a thing.
The sort of honest, independent, risqué movie that some people here would like to see, and me (or another) to make, simply wont happen because of piracy.
My only hope is that even more people will support such films as I make, when my 2nd feature ‘Brecha’ comes out soon (trailer youtube)

Hace poco vi tu película y me gustaron muchas cosas de ellas, y la valentí aconla q tratas el tema q trata, incluyendo el de la homosexualidad infantil, q casi no se ha tocado en el cine. Y me gustó mucho en todos los sentidos tu jovencito protagonista, Gonzalo, gracias al cula esta peli se comenta en este blog ;). Me has orependido q hables en plural agradeciendo los comentarios; ¿soys pareja?. Si es así q suerte tienes ;)

Oye, y Brecha, tu siguiente film, ya acabado, ¿se puede ver en algçún sitio on-line?. Gracias.

Thanks for the info, although I had already found both of those links as part of my search. I want to pay for a DVD as I am keen to support this type of small film maker. I am aware of the financial risks that Ivan Noel took to make this film and if we want people such as him to continue making great films, it is only fair that we give our support, both financially and otherwise. Have to say that given the film was made in Spain, I would be surprised if it were not available in some way here. Guess I will have to keep looking. Maybe I should just drive down and knock on his door and ask for a signed copy !!! :-)

Anyway, thanks again for the response.

El Zorro

Por desgracia, dadas las dificultades de distribución del cine español, este film independiente no se estrenó en salas, pasando directamente al mercado de DVD en Estados Unidos.
Source: http://www.culturagay.net/2009/04/en-tu-ausencia

Te ruego no ‘bajarla’ como dices pero hacer un esfuerzo para comprarla a traves alguna tienda online. Cuesta solo 8 euros en algunos sitios.
Source: Iván Noel himself on yahoo.com (this guy is everywhere ;-)

The only DVD produced is in NTSC format but is all-region and will play on all European DVD players/computers. Maybe a job opportunity for you to import/resell it in Spain, hard to believe no shop does it already. Perhaps check the gay outlets/libraries instead of the traditional Spanish retail or online stores you mentioned.Por desgracia indeed…

Un saludo

El Zorro

So it looks like the 2008 and 2009 copies show the same version of the movie indeed, not two. My guess is a misprint of 1h36 as 136 minutes, even though 99 minutes is more like 1h39 really, or more precisely 1h40m23s, according to both KMP and Windows Media Player.
The extras do not amount to the difference, so it’s not that either. Well, there you have it, the mystery around En Tu Ausencia… ;-)