Tess

"She was born into a world where they called it seduction, not rape. What she did would shatter that world forever."

1979 2h 52m EN

👍

7.1

SOLID

★7.1TMDB · 395

DramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A strong-willed peasant girl is sent by her father to the estate of some local aristocrats to capitalize on a rumour that their families are from the same line. This fateful visit commences an epic narrative of sex, class, betrayal, and revenge.

“She was born into a world where they called it seduction, not rape. What she did would shatter that world forever.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

Cast

Nastassja Kinski
Tess Durbeyfield
Peter Firth
Angel Clare
Leigh Lawson
Alec d'Urberville
John Collin
John Durbeyfield
Rosemary Martin
Mrs. Durbeyfield
Carolyn Pickles
Marian
Richard Pearson
Vicar of Marlott
David Markham
Reverend Mr. Clare

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Roman Polanski
Writers: Gérard Brach, Roman Polanski, John Brownjohn
Languages: English
Countries: France, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Clocks in at 172 minutes — on the longer side of feature-length cinema.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

47 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: France, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Roman Polanski, shot by Geoffrey Unsworth. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Philippe Sarde. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Alastair McIntyre shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Nastassja Kinski and Peter Firth and Leigh Lawson carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "She was born into a world where they called it seduction, not rape. What she did would shatter that world forever.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Roman Polanski directs. Geoffrey Unsworth behind the camera. Philippe Sarde scores. Alastair McIntyre cuts. A long sit — settle in. Profitable at the box office. Produced in France, United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Clocks in at 172 minutes — on the longer side of feature-length cinema.
247 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3International production across 2 countries: France, United Kingdom.
4Directed by Roman Polanski, shot by Geoffrey Unsworth. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Philippe Sarde. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Alastair McIntyre shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Nastassja Kinski and Peter Firth and Leigh Lawson carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "She was born into a world where they called it seduction, not rape. What she did would shatter that world forever.".
9IMDB entry: tt0080009 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 16 themes, including "rape", "based on novel or book", "peasant", "marriage".

The technical file

Cinematography: Geoffrey Unsworth
Original score: Philippe Sarde
Editing: Alastair McIntyre
Production design: Pierre Guffroy
Costume design: Anthony Powell
Makeup / hair: Didier Lavergene
Sound: Maurice Gilbert
Runtime: 172 min · 2h 52m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $12,000,000
Box office: $20,101,247
Return: 168% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: Tess (1979)

Awards

Academy Award for Best Costume Design
Academy Award for Best Cinematography
National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
César Award for Best Film
Academy Award for Best Production Design

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Roman Polanski

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Wuchak2020-09-24
★ 8/10
Bringing in the sheaves stuck between a demon and an angel During the Long Depression of the 1870-80s in Blackmore Vale, southern England, a peasant family discovers that they are nobility and thus their oldest daughter, an extraordinarily beautiful woman (Nastassja Kinski), is sent to meet the well-to-do family. She is eventually pitted between the interest of two very different men (Leigh Lawson and Peter Firth). Roman Polanski's "Tess" (1979) is based on Thomas Hardy's 1891 novel "Tess of the d'Urbervilles." Polanski was inspired to make the film because his late wife, Sharon Tate, gave him the book suggesting it would make a great film and she was interested in playing the title role. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the last time Roman saw his pregnant wife alive as she was heading back to the USA while he stayed in Europe to complete a picture. She was murdered by the Manson psychos on August 9th, 1969. This movie is dedicated to her during the opening credits. The two male characters are basically two sides of the same bad coin: one is amoral while the other is excessively moral. There is a scene in the book where Alec shows up to talk to the workers at harvest time wearing a cape with an upturned collar and carrying a pitchfork. The symbolism is obvious. Meanwhile Angel's figurative character is plain from his name. What's the point? Just as it's possible to be excessively bad, a person can be too good. The bible makes this observation in Ecclesiastes 7:16-18. They are two extremes and both have the power to destroy the lives of those they influence. To be expected, Angel eventually seeks to make things right whereas Alec arrogantly continues in his nonchalant amorality, which ultimately ushers in doom. The immutability of this is symbolized by Stonehenge. While a lot of people eventually swing to one extreme perspective/lifestyle or another, e.g. moralist, hedonist, atheist, most people are caught somewhere in the middle, uncertain and searching, like Tess. To enjoy this piece you have to brace yourself for a movie that has the confidence to take its time and tell its tale. You'll discover Victorian curiosities, pastoral mundaneness, beauty, lust, love, idiocy, humility, penitence, arrogance and tragedy. The film runs 3 hours, 6 minutes, with the original theatrical version running 2 minutes less and the DVD 2 hours, 52 minutes. It was shot entirely in France. GRADE: A-/B+

Production companies