Review of Absolution

As a teaching priest in a British boy's academy, Richard Burton finds himself up against some calculating minds in this depressing drama. The judgments of his old school religion turns one of his prized pupils against him, claiming in confession sins of the flesh and taking it a step too far as a further part of his revenge. This is basically a variation of "The Children's Hour" with boys instead of girls, as well as a bit of "The History Boys" and various other educational stories where a teacher thought of as a mentor finds themselves in a moral crisis beyond their comprehension. By the time this hits its dramatic high point, the audience is numb from trying to comprehend what it's all about.

While Burton is fine and the young actors all believable, it's the way the story progresses that turns it upside down to make it extremely frustrating to try and follow, let alone believe. There's a passive/aggressive crippled student who goes out of his way to make the situation worse, all seemingly out of revenge towards Burton for favoring the more popular boys. The lack of real motivation makes this feel forced, a twisting path in the woods that seems to be out to attack the sacrament of absolution rather than to explain its purpose. Having had only a preview showing after completion, it was released officially years after Burton's death, sparing him the embarrassment of its quick failure.