Absolution (1978)

At a Catholic public school, Benjamin Stanfield is tired of being the teacher's pet and decides to play a practical joke on his form master Father Goddard. In confession, Stanfield tells ... See full summary »

Director:

Anthony Page

Writer:

Anthony Shaffer

Stars:

Richard Burton, Dominic Guard, David Bradley

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Burton	...	Father Goddard
Dominic Guard	...	Benjamin 'Benjie' Stanfield
David Bradley	...	Arthur Dyson (as Dai Bradley)
Billy Connolly	...	Blakey
Andrew Keir	...	Headmaster
Willoughby Gray	...	Brigadier Walsh
Preston Lockwood	...	Father Hibbert
James Ottaway	...	Father Matthews
Brook Williams	...	Father Clarence
Jon Plowman	...	Father Piers
Robin Soans	...	Father Henryson
Trevor Martin	...	Mr. Gladstone
Sharon Duce	...	Louella
Brian Glover	...	First Policeman
Dan Meaden	...	Second Policeman

Storyline

At a Catholic public school, Benjamin Stanfield is tired of being the teacher's pet and decides to play a practical joke on his form master Father Goddard. In confession, Stanfield tells Goddard that he has accidentally murdered his friend Blakey and buried him in the forest. When Goddard investigates the matter, he finds a buried scarecrow. Goddard is outraged, but, due to the seal of confession, he knows he cannot expel Stanfield. Shortly after, Stanfield once again enters the confession booth, telling Goddard that what before was a practical joke, he has now made happen. In disbelief, Goddard once again goes to the forest to investigate the matter. This time, he discovers Blakey's dead body. The plot soon thickens as Stanfield's fellow student Arthur Dyson mysteriously disappears...

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Plot Keywords:

confession | forest | practical joke | catholic | friend | 

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Taglines:

Boyhood innocence. Deadly secrets. Burning truths.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1981 (UK)

Also Known As:

Murder by Confession

Filming Locations:

Ellesmere College, Shropshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bulldog

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The exteriors of the Catholic school featured in this film was played by Ellesmere College, near Ellesmere in Shropshire in England. Interiors of the school were filmed at Pinewood Studios. Many of the boy students of Ellesmere College appeared in the film as extras.

User Reviews

Hard to sit through

I don't think anyone can really like this movie. It doesn't do things in a different strange way which is good. But the movie is just so boring, and you are waiting for it to be over. The acting really isn't that bad, but you don't care about that when your watching it. I give it a 1 1/2 out of 5.