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 psychologi…

It’s intriguing to consider what Dominic Guard might have experienced acting alongside Richard Burton in such a deceptive and attractive character. Any apprehension or sense of being overwhelmed seems completely hidden, as he delivers an excellent portrayal of the young student "Benjie." His teacher, "Fr. Goddard" (Burton), is depicted as someone with deep religious convictions but little patience for or engagement w…

The presentation was far from ideal; I watched it as part of a collection of 50 movies on DVDs, and the print had been altered. Roughly ten minutes were removed, and the aspect ratio was cropped to fit within a two-hour television slot including advertisements. Despite these issues, it remains an outstanding film, and I’m left with questions about its history—particularly why it disappeared from view in the United St…