Jude (1996)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Michael Winterbottom

Writers:

Hossein Amini (screenplay)
Thomas Hardy (novel)

Release Date:

18 October 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

His World Could Never Change... Until She Became His World.

Plot:

A stonemason steadfastly pursues a cousin he loves. However their love is troubled as he is married...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Cousin | Stonemason | Loss Of Child | Dead Children

Awards:

4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Christopher Eccleston	...	Jude Fawley
Kate Winslet	...	Sue Bridehead
Liam Cunningham	...	Phillotson
Rachel Griffiths	...	Arabella
June Whitfield	...	Aunt Drusilla
Ross Colvin Turnbull	...	Little Jude
James Daley	...	Jude as a Boy
Berwick Kaler	...	Farmer Troutham
Sean McKenzie	...	1st Stone Mason
Richard Albrecht	...	2nd Stone Mason
Caitlin Bossley	...	Anny
Emma Turner	...	Sarah
Lorraine Hilton	...	Shopkeeper
James Nesbitt	...	Uncle Joe
Mark Lambert	...	Tinker Taylor

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality and intense depictions of death and birth.

Runtime:

123 min | Germany:118 min (TV version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:R21 | Japan:R-15 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:AA (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Beamish Open Air Museum, Beamish, County Durham, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Christopher Eccleston (Jude Fawley) and David Tennant (Drunk Undergraduate) both later portrayed the Doctor in "Doctor Who" (2005). The former played the Ninth Doctor in 2005 while the latter since played the Tenth Doctor since 2005.

Quotes:

Sue: Do I irritate you?
Jude Fawley: No.
Sue: Even though I'm always trying to prove how much cleverer than you I am.
Jude Fawley: You are!
Sue: Don't say that!
Jude Fawley: Why not?
Sue: Because it's not the sort of thing you should admit to!
Jude Fawley: Even if it's true?

Movie Connections:

References Jules et Jim (1962)

A tragic story told beautifully

You can't discuss this movie without discussing the novel of the same name. The movie stays remarkably true to the novel; from character to location. If anything, the movie enhances the novel--through Christopher Eccleston's fantastic performance we see in Jude the light of desire and the crush of defeat.

Though another review characterizes Thomas Hardy's depiction of females as misogynistic, I disagree. The character of Arabella is certainly a villain at her heart, but the character of Sue Bridehead is a mirror of our tragic hero, Jude. Through their interactions, we see not only a stunning performance by Kate Winslet, but also a relationship of equals in misery. Certainly, the males in the novel and movie are depicted at least as wretchedly as the females.

This movie draws the viewer in and gives you insight into Jude's world, from it's optimistic beginning to its tragic end. Definitely not a date movie, but absolutely fine film-making.