Tess (1979)
Directed by Roman Polanski

Film Review

Roman Polanski's adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles is a visually alluring piece of cinema but lacks the intensity and passion that makes the original novel one of the great masterpieces of English literature.   From the level of detail and screentime Polanski devotes to the minutiae of country life, he appears to be far more preoccupied with giving an accurate pictorial representation of life in a rural community in 19th Century England than in orchestrating an effective piece of drama.  The film is beautifully shot and manages to convey the penury and injustice of a bygone era, but its lack of emotion makes its three hour runtime pretty taxing, even for diehard Hardy enthusiasts.

Nastassja Kinski certainly has the charisma and beauty to play the enigmatic Hardy heroine, but her strong German accent and expressionless performance makes it hard to take her seriously in the role.  Fortunately, the casting elsewhere is pretty well spot on - Peter Firth and Leigh Lawson each captures the substance of his character (Angel Clare and Alec d'Urberville respectively), more or less as Hardy wrote it, and a plethora of fine British character actors (including some real eccentrics) help to beef up the film's appeal.   Watch out for French actress Arielle Dombasle in one of her earliest film roles, not long before directors such as Eric Rohmer made her a big name in France.

If the exterior locations in Tess look suspiciously un-English this is probably because the film was shot in Northern France.  Polanski was unable to make the film in England because of fears that he would be extradited to the United States to face charges for alleged rape, so soggy Brittany was the obvious substitute.  Tess may not be Polanski's best film but it makes an interesting contrast with his previous work, which consists largely of creepy psychological dramas.  The film was nominated for six Oscars, winning awards in the Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design categories.

Film Synopsis

The Durbeyfields are a family of peasant farmworkers living in the county of Wessex in the late 1880s.  They are surprised to learn that they are related to a neighbouring wealthy family and Tess, the eldest daughter, pays a visit on her supposed cousin, Alec d'Urberville.  In fact, the d'Urbervilles bought their title, so there is no family connection, but Alec still takes a liking to Tess and offers her work as a servant girl at his house.  Tess quickly realises that her employer is infatuated with her but is powerless to resist his advances.  After Alec has succeeded in seducing her, she leaves and finds work elsewhere on a dairy farm.  Here she meets Angel Clare, a parson's son who has dreams of owning his own farm.  The two fall instantly in love and it is not long before they are man and wife.  On their wedding day, Tess feels emboldened to make her terrible confession, that she has borne another man's child...