TESS - MOVIE [DVD] [1979]

Polanski's version of Hardy's novel is a cinemagraphic treat, and a deftly scripted screenplay. There are very few deviations from the plot of the book and there are frequent lines of dialogue lifted directly from the novel. Natassia Kinski plays Tess to perfection -- with a fatalistic melancholy and innocence that captures the character that Hardy invoked so decisively. She is also astoundingly beautiful without seeming to ever realise it, which is one of the causes her downfall. The filmic representation of Tess' life is wonderfully managed -- particularly good is the way the summer Tess spends working at the dairy farm and meeting Angel is portrayed in sumptuous golden light before things go pear-shaped and the scenes become mist-filled and mud-strewn as Tess lives out her unhappy life. Hardy was making a statement about the industrialisation of the countryside and the destruction of rural ways of life at the end of the nineteenth century. Polanski has managed to translate this from book to film in mesmerising fashion, mostly with the aid of visuals such as the ear-splitting, steam-driven machinery in use at the industrialised farm Tess is forced to work at after Angel leaves her. This compares to the slow-pace of rural life at Tess' home and at the dairy. The film's atmosphere and the characterisations are deep and rich, and is certainly the best film adaptation of a Hardy novel despite some stiff competition. Just one aside -- the film is dedicated to Polanski's murdered wife Sharon Tate.

…..Roman Polanski’s film movie, his reputation for film making encouraged my purchase.Classic literature and story, still very much relevant in the 21st Century.Schools and University further studies, stimulating discussions and debates.

The print for this reborn blu-ray issue of Tess is very good and the film comes back to life in widescreen. When it is was first released I remember there were dissenting voices among the critics for Nastassia Kinski's performance in the lead role. I cannot now imagine why: she is excellent, notwithstanding the Dorset accent overlaying her native German twang. The production is sumptuous, with top line photography (many a scene could make a work of art, and Polanski holds wide shots through the length of some scenes to use these images to best advantage), costume design, art direction and locations. Polanski directs with great precision, unfolding the tale with just the right rhythm. Characters like Tess and most especially Angel Clare are hard to bring to life for a modern audience, capturing their self-image and motivation. Polanski and the other scenario writers do better, I think, than any other filmed version. The significance of ancestry and antiquity, window dressing in some other productions, is solidly embedded in this telling. Hardy is a bit of a paradox. He was very modern for his day, but he strived for universality and he can seem old fashioned today (perhaps more so than, say, Jane Austen, who was writing long before him). I am not sure this film is quite in tune with Hardy, but it gets close and is absolutely wonderful to look at and contemplate.

THIRST QUENCHING FOR THE BRAIN OF THIS STORY BY THOMAS HARDY, JUST VIEW IT AND DRINK IN ! ! !

I first saw this Polanski film many years ago and wondered why I didn't have it in my collection. After watching it again I realised why. The film lacks any merit; the acting is stilted, the continuity poor and the film script misses the underlying richness of the book. A very poor representation of a great story. "Far" and "The Mayor" far superior in all respects.

This review is of the recent bluray version. The cinematography is opulent and beautiful. The text has been adapted faithfully and all the major moments are captured.However. What was going on with her accent in the first few scenes ? I was actually quite scared. thinking .oh god I will spend the next 3 hours cringing. But it settles down and she seems to master the west country drawl. Some of the other accents are all over the place, literally. Jack Durbeyfield clearly of irish extraction. Some awful dubbing errors too. This was an Anglo-French production. Couple of scenes when Tess has her back to us for " the length of a bible "Having slated it now. I have to say that she is such a beautiful Tess. So young when this was made - Kinski may even have been younger than Hardy's character.Peter Firth is also perfect as Angel. Polansky can tell a story, and the tragedy rolls out at a lovely pace, just like the novel.Is it worth £13 ?It is a classic.But I still prefer Justine Waddell's Tess in the ITV mini series.

Tess of the D’Urbervilles is a classic Thomas Hardy novel which has been adapted a few times into film and television series. Both the BBC and ITV have since done productions which I would say are superior to this Roman Polanski version, though it is worth watching.The main flaw I would say is the choice of lead actor. I don’t think that Polanski was being as objective as he might have been in choosing Nastassia Kinski to play Tess. She is too “dreamy” and lacking energy and vitality, and the accent is a problem. Overall though ok.

Przepiękna, zmysłowa ekranizacja ponurej powieści Thomasa Hardy'ego z genialną główną rolą. Jeśli ktoś powątpiewa w talent Romana Polańskiego, to powinien obejrzeć przede wszystkim właśnie ten film.

Beau film qui restitue bien l'atmosphère de l'oeuvre de Thomas Hardy. Du moins il la rend plus accessible, plus compréhensible, par une synthèse bien construite, en allégeant (peut-être un peu trop) la description du parcours de tous ces personnages au psychisme fragile, victimes du rigorisme de la religion et de la morale de cette époque. Un Alec libertin et sans principes, Angel avec des principes bien arrêtés, auxquels il renoncera trop tard, et Tess courageuse, mais à l'esprit tout aussi borné. Son coup de folie impardonnable lui coûtera la vie ; car enfin, Alec avait tout de même aidé la famille de Tess.De par leurs comportements, ils sont tous bien à plaindre...Une très bonne réalisation.

Film molto bello, con un'ottima fotografia ed una eccezionale ricostruzione dell'epoca.Roman Polanski è sempre una garanzia come regista e qui introduce nel mondo del grande schermo una giovanissima Nastassja Kinski molto ben centrata sul suo personaggio.Sto recensendo la versione tedesca in BR della Arthaus, che propone il film con una traccia video e audio molto ben restaurata.Lingua italiana assente, anche nei sottotitoli.

En 1969, Sharon Tate donna comme cadeau à son mari, le réalisateur Roman Polanski, le roman de Thomas Hardy, ''Tess d'Urberville'', et lui conseilla de faire un film sur cette histoire. Dix ans plus tard, Polanski réalisa ''Tess'', un quasi chef d'œuvre avec des paysages à couper le souffle et un scénario hors pair. C'est l'histoire d'une jeune paysanne anglaise du XIXe siècle à qui la vie ne donne pas de cadeaux. Ses deux amants sont des salauds chacun à leur manière. La jeune fille est interprétée par Nastassja Kinski qui y donne toute sa mesure. Par ce film, Roman Polanski démontre qu'il est l'un des plus grands réalisateurs du XXe siècle.

DVD, good print, very happy