A stern headmaster, Goddard, portrayed by Richard Burton, shows preference for one student, Benjie Stanfield (Dominic Guard), while seemingly disliking the awkward Arthur Dyson (Dai Bradley) at a Catholic boarding school in England. Benjie also develops a friendship with a wandering hippie (Billy Connolly), a connection that Goddard doesn’t approve of. Chaos follows. "Absolution," released in 1978, is a psychological drama and mystery incorporating some suspense toward the end, written by the same person who penned “The Wicker Man” from 1973. It functions as an opposite to "Picnic at Hanging Rock" (1975), but with a clear resolution. Dominic Guard was also in that earlier film, incidentally. The setting evokes thoughts of "Dead Poets Society" (1989), although “Absolution” is missing its uplifting quality and deals with more troubling subjects instead. The underlying psychological and spiritual themes are quite interesting, which makes it a movie I think people could watch again and again. Initially, the film contrasts the potential restrictions of religious belief with what seems like freedom in bohemian life, placing Benjie between these two worlds. However, there’s much more to consider. For example, intense animosity leads to anger, along with obvious favoritism. A strict adherence to rules often encourages rebellion, and a questionable religious guideline can unexpectedly harm those who follow it. Louella Costigan as Sharon Duce portrays the only female character of significance, though her appearance is limited to one scene (she later married Dominic Guard and had two children with him). Consequently, this feels like a story primarily focused on males, which I consider a weakness. Also, the complicated details revealed in the final act could have been explained more clearly. Actually, that portion of the narrative needed some adjustments because certain elements seem rather unbelievable (or perhaps I overlooked something). Ultimately, the conclusion required a bit more polish. The film’s length is 1 hour and 35 minutes; it was filmed at Ellesmere College, near Ellesmere, England, approximately two hours northwest of London (several students from Ellesmere appeared as extras in the movie). Interior shots of the school and what I believe were forest scenes took place at Pinewood Studios, located just west of London. GRADE: B-

Source on TMDB