Absolution

Absolution is a 1978 British thriller film directed by Anthony Page and written by playwright Anthony Shaffer. The film stars Richard Burton as a priest who teaches at a boys' school and finds one of his favourite students is playing a nasty practical joke on him. He sets out to investigate the prank and stumbles upon a dead body, leading to his life spiralling out of control. Plot The film centres on schoolboy Benjamin Stanfield and his unpopular friend, Arthur Dyson; their form master, Father Goddard and a travelling motorcyclist named Blakey. The film opens with Blakey, arriving at the school. He asks Fr. Goddard if there are any odd jobs that he can do but is told there are none available. Later Fr. Goddard is watching Dyson rehearse in a school production of the operetta Patience. It appears he does not like Arthur while he fawns on Stanfield. In the meantime Blakey has set up camp in the woods near the school. His camp is discovered the next day by Stanfield and some other boys, and Stanfield strikes up a friendship with Blakey. The next day Fr. Goddard discusses the Catholic concept of confession with his class, during which he tells them that a Catholic priest cannot break the seal of confession, even if it includes a serious crime or murder.