Director Angelika Levi met Benji in 1991 in Namibia, where she was working as a camerawoman. Benji should have been the main character of ABSENT PRESENT, but he had disappeared. The film re-sketches some stages of Benji's life, and looks into the history of Benji's disappearance as it tries to understand why Benji went underground. Benji's story is the starting point for a journey that leads from Germany to Namibia to Spain, Canaries onto Senegal. ABSENT PRESENT is also about losing or disavowing national identity.
When the protagonist of her next film disappears, Angelika Levi decides investigate her protagonist's life.
Director Angelika Levi met Benji in 1991 in Namibia, where she was working as a camerawoman. Benji should have been the main character of ABSENT PRESENT, but he had disappeared.
The film re-sketches some stages of Benji's life, and looks into the history of Benji's disappearance as it tries to understand why Benji went underground.
Benji's story is the starting point for a journey that leads from Germany to Namibia to Spain, Canaries onto Senegal. ABSENT PRESENT is also about losing or disavowing national identity.