Tess (1979) 7.2
A young strong-willed peasant girl, becomes the affection of two men, in the end tragically falling into the arms of one. Director:Roman Polanski |
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Tess (1979) 7.2
A young strong-willed peasant girl, becomes the affection of two men, in the end tragically falling into the arms of one. Director:Roman Polanski |
|
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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John Collin | ... | |
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Tony Church | ... | |
| Nastassja Kinski | ... |
Tess
(as Nastassia Kinski)
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Brigid Erin Bates | ... |
Girl in meadow
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Jeanne Biras | ... |
Girl in meadow
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| Peter Firth | ... | ||
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John Bett | ... | |
| Tom Chadbon | ... | ||
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Rosemary Martin | ... | |
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Geraldine Arzul | ... |
Child
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Stephanie Treille | ... |
Child
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Elodie Warnod | ... |
Child
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Ben Reeks | ... |
Child
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Leigh Lawson | ... | |
| Lesley Dunlop | ... |
Girl in henhouse
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In the Victorian period, a rural clergyman tells John Durbeyfield, a simple farmer, that he is descended from the illustrious d'Urberville family -- now extinct. Or maybe not. Durbeyfield sends his daughter Tess to check on a family named d'Uberville living in a manor house less than a day's carriage ride away. Alec d'Urberville is delighted to meet his beautiful "cousin" and seduces her with strawberries and roses. Actually, Alec has gotten his illustrious name and coat of arms by purchasing them. Tess also takes up the game of illusion when she finds, loses and finds again her true love Angel Claire. Written by Dale O'Connor <daleoc@interaccess.com>
Roman Polanski's film Tess, (1979) adaptation of Thomas Hardy famous novel of the 19th century "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" , won many prestigious awards, including three Oscars of six nominations and every award for Best Cinematography it was nominated for. If any film deserves recognition for its beautiful, lyrical, sensual yet melancholic and poetic visual presentation, "Tess" is it. The movie might be Roman Polanski's finest achievement, and this statement comes from a viewer who is in love with all Polanski's films starting with his debut "Knife in the Water". "Tess" is one of the best adaptations of the classic novel I've seen and it lives, breathes and moves freely. It never rushes to tell its long story but tells it with rare finesse, compassion, and love for the heroine, a gentle creature who had been insulted, humiliated, and ultimately destroyed.
The success of the movie starts with the choice of the actress for the title role. Tess as played by 20 years old Nasstassia Kisnki is beautiful, sensual, shy and full of life and hope for love. The life of Tess unfolds in front of us from her teenage years as an innocent country girl until the powerfully tragic final scene at the magnificent Stonehenge. The film is almost three hours long but I never was bored, on the contrary, I felt compassion for the girl and anger toward the men that used and corrupted her, ruined her hopes for love and happiness, and toward the society that mercifully discarded of her. Tess is one of the best movies I've seen. It is stunning, subtle, emotional, tragic, and unforgettable.