Absent Without Leave

"A True Story of Love, Conscience and Duty"

1993 1h 44m EN

🙌

8.0

BANGER

★8.0TMDB · 2

RomanceDramaWar

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In 1942 Wellington, Daisy Edwards, 16 and pregnant, relies totally on her just-wed husband, Ed, who is little older than she. Ed is suddenly drafted into the army and is to be sent overseas to battle while Daisy is sent to her father in Auckland. When Ed's leave is cancelled at the last minute he takes the dangerous decision to go absent without leave to be with Daisy on her journey home. As a deserter, Ed is hunted, captured and imprisoned. Life inside is bad enought without the worry of what is going on outside. The film is based upon a true story.

“A True Story of Love, Conscience and Duty”

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Cast

Craig McLachlan
James Edwards
Katrina Hobbs
Daisy Edwards
Tony Barry
Peter
Judie Douglass
Ella
Ken Blackburn
C.O.
Tony Burton
Constable
Francis Bell
Paddy
Robyn Malcolm
Betty

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: John Laing
Writers: James Edwards, Graeme Tetley
Languages: English
Countries: New Zealand

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

33 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by John Laing, shot by Allen Guilford. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Don McGlashan. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Paul Sutorius shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Craig McLachlan and Katrina Hobbs and Tony Barry carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "A True Story of Love, Conscience and Duty".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0103612 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

John Laing directs. Allen Guilford behind the camera. Don McGlashan scores. Paul Sutorius cuts. Produced in New Zealand. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

133 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by John Laing, shot by Allen Guilford. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Don McGlashan. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Paul Sutorius shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Craig McLachlan and Katrina Hobbs and Tony Barry carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "A True Story of Love, Conscience and Duty".
8IMDB entry: tt0103612 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.