The Presence of Absence

When a doorbell changes everything: the story of the Gold Star Families and their moving fight back to life The Presence of Absence, a decade-long documentary, explores trauma, loss, grief, mourning, and healing after war. Inbal Abergil combines stories of Gold Star Families, still lifes of loved ones' belongings, and portraits of Casualty Notification Officers. The still lifes show how survivors cope with loss, highlighting the dual pain and comfort of memories. The portraits depict the grim task of delivering tragic news, aiming for no mistakes to allow healing. The Four-channel video features four Gold Star Mothers discussing life after losing their sons, offering grief coping guidelines. The project invites reflection on the survivors' journey to rebuild their lives and the human cost of conflict.