Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Movie spotlight

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

1998
Movie
180 min
English

Thomas Hardy's classic epic remains one of the most popular novels, this TV adaptation vividly depicts the powerful tale of a peasant girl whose life is torn apart by the love and jealousy of two men. Justine Waddell stars as the hapless Child of Nature who is tossed around by the dark forces of fate. Jason Flemyng is the dark and sinister Alec D'Urberville whose relentless pursuit of Tess triggers the heroine's downfall. Oliver Milburn plays the handsome young Angel Clare, the caring rebel who falls deeply in love with Tess.

Insights

IMDb7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes65%
Metacritic62/100
Google Users78%
Director: Roman PolanskiGenres: Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

A young, beautiful peasant girl named Tess is sent by her impoverished parents to claim kinship with the wealthy D'Urbervilles, hoping for a better life. However, she falls prey to the predatory Alec D'Urberville and later experiences a brief period of true love with the Reverend Angel Clare. Her past tragically haunts her present, leading to devastating consequences.

Critical Reception

Roman Polanski's adaptation of Thomas Hardy's novel was met with mixed to positive reviews. While Nastassja Kinski's performance as Tess was widely praised for its vulnerability and depth, some critics found the film to be overly long and its depiction of the story somewhat melodramatic. The cinematography and period detail were generally lauded.

What Reviewers Say

  • Nastassja Kinski delivers a compelling and sympathetic performance as the ill-fated Tess.

  • The film is visually stunning, capturing the period and rural English landscape effectively.

  • Some viewers found the narrative pacing uneven and the emotional impact less potent than the source material.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the film's faithful adaptation of the classic novel and Nastassja Kinski's central performance. Many felt it was a moving and well-made period drama, although some noted its somber tone and tragic trajectory.

Fun Fact

Nastassja Kinski was only 17 years old when she filmed her role as Tess, a fact that led to some controversy and discussion regarding the maturity of the themes she was portraying.

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