The Absentee (1913) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A divided family gradually moves from resentment and separation toward love, mediation, and reunion.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Widow's New Marriage

Dries lives with his son and mother-in-law after being widowed. He falls in love with Minna and marries her despite opposition from his family and friends.

Key Events

• Dries Lives as a Widower — Dries lives as a widower with his son Peter and his mother-in-law. Characters: Dries Schoonejans, Peter Schoonejans Location: Family home
• The Household Is Introduced — The household includes Dries, Peter, and Dries's mother-in-law. Characters: Dries Schoonejans, Peter Schoonejans Location: Family home
• Dries Meets Minna — Dries, a widower, falls in love with Minna, who is also a widow. Characters: Dries Schoonejans, Minna Petrus Location: Local community
• Marriage Decision — Dries decides to marry Minna despite opposition from family and friends. Characters: Dries Schoonejans, Minna Petrus Location: Local community
• Dries Marries Minna — Dries and Minna marry, changing the structure of Peter's household. Characters: Dries Schoonejans, Minna Petrus, Peter Schoonejans Location: Family home

A Son Leaves Home

Peter reacts angrily to the marriage and leaves home to enlist. The household then becomes more divided when the mother-in-law moves to another cottage.

Key Events

• Dries Marries Minna — Dries and Minna marry, changing the structure of Peter's household. Characters: Dries Schoonejans, Minna Petrus, Peter Schoonejans Location: Family home
• Peter Rejects the Marriage — Peter reacts angrily to Dries's marriage to Minna. Characters: Peter Schoonejans, Dries Schoonejans, Minna Petrus Location: Family home
• Peter Leaves Home — In anger, Peter leaves home to enlist. Characters: Peter Schoonejans, Dries Schoonejans Location: Family home
• The Household Separates — The family separation deepens as the mother-in-law moves to another cottage. Characters: Dries Schoonejans, Minna Petrus Location: Two family cottages
• Six Years Pass — Six years pass while the family remains divided. Characters: Dries Schoonejans, Minna Petrus, Peter Schoonejans Location: Separated homes

Years of Separation

Six years pass while the family remains separated. During this period, a connection develops between the two family circles through Minna's daughter.

Key Events

• Six Years Pass — Six years pass while the family remains divided. Characters: Dries Schoonejans, Minna Petrus, Peter Schoonejans Location: Separated homes
• Minna's Daughter Is Known — During the separation, the mother-in-law becomes acquainted with Minna's daughter. Characters: Minna Petrus Location: Another cottage
• A Bridge Between Families — Minna's daughter becomes a means of mediation between the two families. Characters: Minna Petrus Location: The cottages
• Peter Falls Ill Abroad — Peter becomes ill while serving in Sumatra. Characters: Peter Schoonejans Location: Sumatra
• Photographs Reach Peter — Peter falls in love through photographs during his illness abroad. Characters: Peter Schoonejans Location: Sumatra

Love Across Distance

Peter falls ill in Sumatra but falls in love through photographs and recovers. He is then drafted home again to Holland.

Key Events

• Photographs Reach Peter — Peter falls in love through photographs during his illness abroad. Characters: Peter Schoonejans Location: Sumatra
• Peter Recovers — Peter's love inspired by the photographs contributes to his recovery. Characters: Peter Schoonejans Location: Sumatra
• Peter Is Drafted Home — After recovering, Peter is drafted home again to Holland. Characters: Peter Schoonejans Location: Sumatra to Holland
• Return to Holland — Peter returns to Holland after his illness and service in Sumatra. Characters: Peter Schoonejans Location: Holland
• Peter Meets the Beloved — Peter meets the person he came to love through photographs. Characters: Peter Schoonejans Location: Holland

The General Reunion

Peter meets the person he loved through photographs, and their love is confirmed. Minna works to reunite the divided families and eventually succeeds.

Key Events

• Peter Meets the Beloved — Peter meets the person he came to love through photographs. Characters: Peter Schoonejans Location: Holland
• Love Is Confirmed — The meeting confirms that Peter and the young woman truly love each other. Characters: Peter Schoonejans Location: Holland
• Minna Plans Reunion — Minna takes action to bring the separated families together. Characters: Minna Petrus, Dries Schoonejans, Peter Schoonejans Location: Holland
• Families Reunite — Minna ultimately succeeds in bringing about a general family reunion. Characters: Dries Schoonejans, Minna Petrus, Peter Schoonejans Location: Holland

Story Breakdown

• Widowed Household — Dries begins with a fragile household shaped by widowhood and family dependence.
  • Dries Raises Peter — Dries lives with his son Peter after being widowed.
  • Mother-In-Law Stays — Dries's mother-in-law is part of the original household.
• Dries Chooses Love — Dries's relationship with Minna changes the family's structure.
  • Meeting Minna — Dries falls in love with Minna, another widow.
  • Opposed Marriage — Dries marries Minna despite opposition from family and friends.
• Peter's Rebellion — Peter's anger turns the marriage into a decisive family rupture.
  • Anger at Home — Peter reacts angrily after Dries marries Minna.
  • Enlistment Departure — Peter leaves home to enlist.
• Years Apart — The family remains separated while time and distance reshape its relationships.
  • Cottage Separation — The mother-in-law moves into another cottage.
  • Six Years Passing — Six years pass during the continuing separation.
• Distance Brings Love — Peter's illness abroad is followed by recovery and an emotional connection through photographs.
  • Illness in Sumatra — Peter falls ill while in Sumatra.
  • Photographic Romance — Peter falls in love through photographs and recovers.
• Return and Reunion — Peter returns to Holland, confirms his love, and becomes part of a wider reconciliation.
  • Homeward Draft — Peter is drafted home again to Holland.
  • General Family Reunion — Minna works toward and achieves a general reunion.

Directed by

Albert Capellani

Key Cast

• Henri Étiévant — Dries Schoonejans
• Henri Rollan — Peter Schoonejans
• Jeanne Grumbach — Schoonmoeder Grietje / Mother-in-law Grietje
• Germaine Dermoz — Minna Petrus
• Raymonde Dupré — Dina