Tess -- What Makes This Movie Great? (episode 59)

Based on Thomas Hardy's famous English novel, "Tess of the D'Urbanvilles," this movie version of Tess won several awards in 1979, including for best cinematography.

That's one of the reasons why Tess is great. The video will tell you other reasons, including what naturalism is, and why Tess endures as a story of injustice about a poor English woman.

Directed by Roman Polanski and starring Natassha Kinski.

All reasonable comments welcome, including reasoned disagreements. You will be banned for foolish talk, harassment, and hate speech on sight; it's a tremendous waste of life.

[viralbuthow]

The cinematographers won well deserved Oscars for Tess. It's beautiful. Everything that a period piece should look like.

[Fionasichanie]

I also think Nastassja Kinski was perfectly cast with her airy, ethereal looks

[antoniomiranda]

Nastassja kinski deserved an nominee in Oscar for Tess I dont Know why it didnt happen. Unforgetable performance ever!!! Wonderful movie!!

[mackjay]

TESS is my choice for most ignored and underrated entry in the Criterion Collection. It almost never gets even mentioned. Thanks for your appreciation!

[josephinemiller]

I think the point is that Angel was far worse to Tess.
Alec was in love with her.
Angel was in love with an illusion as was Tess.

[sandstormer]

Tess would be in my top five favourite films. I've loved it since it was shown to us in English at school more than twenty years ago. Glad you and others appreciate it also, and thanks for taking the time to analyse!

[austins.]

This is a filmmakers film, many great directors love this

[Gabriel-gvmx]

It's a magnificent film, just sublime.
Polanski has an unerring eye and Tess is a supreme example of cinema at its zenith in terms of Art, philosophy, cinematography.

[Fionasichanie]

Watched this wonderful film in the ‘80s & read the book. I loved how you brought up the natural world shaping the lives of the characters - as did Thomas Hardy in the book with Tess’s suffering occurring during the bleak winter days. The aptly named Angel is the idealist who is shattered by Tess’s past and becomes distraught of what society might think if they find out. The story is brimming with themes incl. class, the cruelty of society Judgement, shame, narrow-mindedness from the Church and the wretchedness of poverty.

[joycegibbs]

They don't make films like that anymore.  It's gorgeous, so well performed & no PC messaging.  Just watched it 2 days ago.  One of my favourites.  And the music is amazing too.  I feel we've gone back to that nastiness in life too.

[lw]

Tess is so good. The story and characters are amazing because so was the book, Hardy's best work probably. But the costumes, art design, casting, acting, editing, locations are stunning in the film. Angel loved the idea of Tess so when the illusion is shattered he can't cope with it. Yes it's a long film but it has to be to get all the story in. There's a subtle transition from summer to winter too as the tone changes to bleaker at the end, everything looks drab and less bright. Hardy seemed to believe in fatalism, Tess is doomed basically.

[GenXrCist]

Even the score is beautiful. I can hear it in my head now.

[BradfordHuckins]

Sharon Tate read this book and told her husband it would make a great movie. She then left London to head back to Los Angeles to have her baby. Of course, it was not meant to be. Three weeks after coming back home, she was brutally murdered on August 9th, 1969. In the credits of the movie, Roman put the words "To Sharon" as a dedication to her.

[keouine]

If one reads Jude the Obscure first then Tess, it may not seem as depressing. I am gaga over Thomas Hardy novels. He gets it. I lent the movie to a friend who hated it. I thought to myself, "Is my judgement that lousy? How could I have missed all its failures, shortcomings and bad moviemaking?" Now I feel I was right to love it and that my friend's judgment was impaired.

[lucasmartinez]

I love the way you express yourself through these videos. Keep making great content.❤

[achasingafterthewind]

I haven't seen this film, but the novel was my favorite for about a year, until it was supplanted by The Brothers Karamazov, and it's still my second-favorite. I haven't seen any adaptations, but I always heard this was the best one, and I've passively looked for it over the years, with no luck. After watching this video, however, I looked it up online and found out it's only on the Criterion Collection. I'll have to get it during this Barnes & Noble sale and get back to you after I watch it.

As far as the book goes, one reason for the sense of injustice the reader feels is that Hardy places you firmly on Tess's side through making the situations she's in so overbearing, and most of the other characters are--either intentionally or unintentionally--obstacles that serve to prevent Tess from escaping her circumstances. There's a terrible sense of fatalism all throughout the story that makes you feel sorry for her, while also providing great drama, and it is the Universe/fate/God/whatever you want to call it hovering over Tess so sadistically--or perhaps uncaringly--and the other characters abandoning her to loneliness that makes you empathize with her and want her to find happiness.

What do you think of the book? Are there significant differences between it and the film?

[TTykwer]

It's beautiful movie to look at. But the story is so darn depressing to me. Nevertheless, I have watched it two or three times in the last 25 years. Thank you for another excellent commentary on a great movie.

[sophiab]

Very nice review! I agree with you, that Tess is one of the best period films out there. Sadly I feel it's a bit overlooked from Polanski's filmography, and people don't talk too much about it nowadays (even though it was a success back in the 70s).

[stirbjoernwesterhever]

I was in love with Nastasja Kinski and of course I watched Tess as a fifteen year old boy, when it startet 1980 in German cinemas. It was hard to stomach and I never watched it again, but it left a big mark on me. A great movie.

[ThisLifeisaParade]

My Mom loved this movie. Though I never knew what it was, just a tape labeled "Tess" on a shelf.