Aesthetics of Absence

An unexpected phone call from a long-lost love becomes the starting point of an extensive cinematic project, in which filmmaker Mia Engberg searches for the ultimate expression of time, memory and what has been lost. How do you grasp something that is no longer there? How do you film what cannot be seen?

Aesthetics of Absence is a book about the labyrinths of filmmaking, following the creative process behind Belleville Baby, a film that went on to win international acclaim and become a beloved piece of personal cinema. This essay is a clear-sighted and inspiring reflection on how to challenge habitual ways of thinking—a book for filmmakers, creatives, and anyone who longs to let the soul travel new paths.

Mia Engberg is a filmmaker, researcher and author. Her films include the award-winning trilogy Belleville Baby, Lucky One, and Hypermoon as well as the widely acclaimed Dirty Diaries – 12 Shorts of Feminist Porn. She holds a PhD from Stockholm University of the Arts. Her cinematic research explores the aesthetics of absence and navigates the intersection of documentary and fiction, poetry and essay. Aesthetics of Absence is her first book.