Tess (1979)

81% of critics liked it
(16 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(5,685 ratings)

In Roman Polanski's adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Nastassja Kinski plays Tess, a poor British peasant girl sent to live with her distant and wealthy relatives, the D'Urbervilles. Though Tess' father had hoped that the girl would be permitted a portion of the D'Urberville… More In Roman Polanski's adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Nastassja Kinski plays Tess, a poor British peasant girl sent to live with her distant and wealthy relatives, the D'Urbervilles. Though Tess' father had hoped that the girl would be permitted a portion of the D'Urberville riches, he is in for a major disappointment: Tess' new housemates are not D'Urbervilles at all, but a social-climbing family that has bought the name. Tess won three Oscars, including a "Best Cinematography" statuette for the late Geoffrey Unsworth and his successor Ghislain Cloquet. The film also served to catapult Nastassja Kinski to stardom. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Roman Polanski
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Oct 1, 1979 Wide
On DVD: Sep 28, 2004

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Tess is a sensitive, intelligent screen treatment of a literary masterwork.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
This is a wonderful film.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Without Mr. Polanski's name in the credits, this lush and scenic Tess could even be mistaken for the work of David Lean.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
een in the context of Roman Polanski's career it becomes something rich and strange, shaded into terror by the naturalistic absurdism that is the basis of Polanski's style.
, Empire Magazine
Insufferably long, but very good in parts.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Visually, Tess is a masterpiece, capturing in amazing detail the scenery and atmosphere of the England of yore. The film's chief drawback, however, is its lack of vitality.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Though not one of Polanski's best features, this adaptation of Thomas Hardy's challenging novel, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, is intelligent if flawed, but it's nice to look at due to excellent production values, particularly cinematography.
, Time Out
Tess tells one rather more about its director's much publicised preoccupations than about Hardy's themes.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Polanski is entitled to one monstrously overlong period piece, and in Tess he acquits himself satisfactorily, though the film isn't nearly the equal of its counterparts
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Tess conveys the bleak determinism that makes this young woman's life so anguished.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Gorgeous, sumptuous, and quietly intense masterpiece.
, Film4
Not a high point in Polanski's career but not without its merits.

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Pierluigi P

The mean and downward day by day of a gorgeous peasant girl. beautifully adapted to the screen by Roman Polanski. A film dedicated to his wife Sharon Tate.
Danny R

Natassja Kinski delivers a intelligent star-making performance as strong-willed farm girl of exceptional beauty from a poor family who is forcibly seduce by aristocrat. leaving her pregnant and alone, she gives birth to a sickly child who soon dies. She eventually falls in love with… More
Natassja Kinski delivers a intelligent star-making performance as strong-willed farm girl of exceptional beauty from a poor family who is forcibly seduce by aristocrat. leaving her pregnant and alone, she gives birth to a sickly child who soon dies. She eventually falls in love with another man who marries her and then treats her unfairly and abandons her, she has no choice but return to the aristocrat who misused her with tragic consequences. The romanticism and social determinism of Victorian England are dramatized with precision and effectiveness thanks to Roman Polanski masterful direction. A visually stupendous film with Oscar winning cinematography by Geoffery Unsworth. Based upon novel by Thomas Hardy, a memorable cinematic masterpiece. Highly Recommended.
Doctor S

Looooong, faithful (so I'm told) filming of the novel with attractive scenery & costumes. Meek by Polanski standards but more engaging than most period dramas.
Daisy M

The success of the movie starts with the choice of the actress for the title role. Tess played by 20 years old Nasstasia Kinski 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… More
The success of the movie starts with the choice of the actress for the title role. Tess played by 20 years old Nasstasia Kinski 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 more of the best movies I've seen. It is stunning, subtle, emotional, tragic, and unforgettable.
Tom S

I don't usually fall for period melodrama, but sprinkle in a dash of Roman and I was swept away by this one.

Cast

            Nastassja Kinski as Tess Durbeyfield

            Leigh Lawson as Alec d'Urberville

            Peter Firth as Angel Clare

            John Collin as Mr. John Durbeyfield

            David Markham as Rev. Mr. Clare

            Rosemary Martin as Mrs. Durbeyfield

            Carolyn Pickles as Miriam

            Richard Pearson as Vicar of Marlott

            Pascale de Boysson as Mrs. Clare

            Dicken Ashworth as Farmer Groby

            Peter Benson as Religious Fanatic

            John Bett as Felix Clare

            Fred Bryant as Dairyman Crick

            Keith Buckley as Possman

            Tom Chadbon as Cuthbert Clare

            Tony Church as Parson Tringham

            Sylvia Coleridge as Mrs. d'Urberville

            Arielle Dombasle as Mercy Chant

            Lesley Dunlop as Girl in benbouse

            Jimmy Gardner as Pedler

            John Gill as Landlord

            Suzanna Hamilton as Izz

            Jacque Mathou as Harvester

            Patsy Rowlands as Landlady

            Patsy Smart as Housekeeper

            Jacob Weizbluth as Yokel at barn-dance

            John Barrett as Old dairy band

            Caroline Embling as Retty

            Forbes Collins as New tenant

            John Moore as Possman

            Jeanne Biras as Girl in Meadow

            Josine Comellas as Mrs. Crick

            Graham Weston as Constable

            Marilyne Even as Girl in benbouse

            Anne Tirard as Old dairy band
See full cast

Tess (1979)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Pierluigi P

Danny R

Doctor S

Daisy M

Tom S

Cast