In the Absence of the Sun
Year: 2014
Runtime: 94 mins
Language: Indonesian
Three women navigate the complexities of Jakarta, each grappling with personal struggles and seeking their place in a rapidly evolving city. Through a tender and melancholic night, they experience moments of reflection and connection as they confront the challenges of finding themselves amidst constant change.
In the Absence of the Sun (2014) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview
Get a spoiler-free look at In the Absence of the Sun (2014) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the restless heart of Jakarta, three women move through a night that feels both intimate and endless, each searching for a sense of belonging amid a city that never pauses. Gia, a filmmaker returning after years abroad, finds the familiar streets both familiar and foreign, prompting her to confront the distance between the life she left behind and the one that now awaits her. Her encounters drift between lingering memories and the vibrant pulse of a metropolis that continues to reinvent itself, inviting her to rediscover where her story truly belongs.
Ci Surya, a recent widow, steps into a world where the echoes of a shared past linger in the spaces her husband once filled. As she navigates the quiet corners of her home and the bustling avenues outside, she is drawn toward places that reveal hidden layers of her marriage, offering quiet moments of reflection and the chance to piece together a new identity beyond loss. The city’s neon glow becomes a backdrop for her quiet determination to understand what remains and what might still be possible.
Indri works in a gym, where the rhythm of daily routines clashes with the unpredictable currents of modern romance. Her life is a blend of disciplined effort and the yearning for connection, leading her to explore the city’s nocturnal offerings in search of companionship, authenticity, and a glimpse of who she might become when the lights dim. Through fleeting encounters and hopeful conversations, she feels the pulse of a city that thrives on both chance and choice.
Together, their stories weave a tender, melancholic portrait of Jakarta at night—a place where bustling streets and quiet alleys become mirrors for inner yearning. The film captures the subtle beauty of moments shared, the quiet resilience of its characters, and the ever‑shifting rhythm of a city that both challenges and comforts those who wander its lanes.
Last Updated: September 26, 2025 at 04:34
Explore Movie Threads
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Movies about urban melancholia and resilience like In the Absence of the Sun
Intimate stories of loneliness and fleeting connection in the big city.If you enjoyed the quiet, character-driven exploration of loneliness and fleeting connection in 'In the Absence of the Sun', discover more movies like it. This list features similar dramas and romance films that delve into the melancholic lives of individuals seeking solace and identity within sprawling, modern cities.
Distant
2004
Alice in the Cities
1974
Lost in Translation
2003
Unknown Pleasures
2003
Aloners
2023
Lost
2005
Rabbit Hole
2010
Bokeh
2017
Medicine for Melancholy
2008
Moonlight Mile
2002
Springtime in a Small Town
2004
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her
2000
Microhabitat
2017
The Driftless Area
2015
Spring Subway
2002
Narrative Summary
Narratives in this thread often follow multiple characters or a central figure grappling with feelings of isolation, identity crisis, or alienation within an urban environment. The plot is secondary to emotional exploration, unfolding through contemplative scenes that focus on internal struggles and small, resonant moments of human contact that offer temporary relief or insight.
Why These Movies?
Movies are grouped here for their shared melancholic tone, slow pacing that allows for deep character immersion, and their central theme of exploring loneliness and the fragile nature of human connection against an urban landscape. They prioritize mood and emotional authenticity over fast-paced plotting.
Movies with interwoven stories of women like In the Absence of the Sun
Complex portraits of female friendship, desire, and personal struggle.For viewers who liked the parallel narratives of Gia, Ci Surya, and Indri in 'In the Absence of the Sun', this collection highlights similar films. Discover other complex dramas and romance stories that follow the interconnected lives of women as they grapple with friendship, infidelity, and identity.
Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy
2021
Three Times
2006
Little Big Women
2021
In Another Country
2012
8 Women
2002
Sliding Doors
1998
Wicker Park
2004
Passion of Mind
2000
Women in Trouble
2009
Mirch
2010
In the Absence of the Sun
2014
Life in a Metro
2007
Heat and Dust
1983
And Now My Love
1974
Love Stories
1997
Narrative Summary
The defining narrative pattern is a multi-protagonist structure, where the film follows several women whose lives may or may not directly intersect. Their individual arcs explore similar thematic ground—such as desire, deception, or resilience—from different perspectives, often related to class or circumstance, creating a rich, composite portrait of the female experience.
Why These Movies?
These films are connected by their complex narrative structure focused on female protagonists, their serious exploration of themes like friendship and infidelity, and their mixed emotional tone that balances sadness with moments of strength and connection. They offer a nuanced look at women's inner lives.
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In the Absence of the Sun Summary
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In the Absence of the Sun Timeline
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