Tess (1979)

Based on Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles, this movie is a Franco-English production. I already have the version with Justine Waddell, but wanted to see this one because of 1) Roman Polanski 2) Philippe Sarde 3)Thomas Hardy. I think Tess is Hardy's most tragic character and he was too cruel on her.

17-year-old Nastassja Kinski as Tess is perfect. To underline the fact that Tess is pure, simple, and ignorant, she is dressed mostly in white. Although a farmer's daughter, she has an elegance about her. Her pride and vanity are rather out-of place; but she is a d'Urberville and her ancestor had fought with William the conqueror.

The life of Tess Durbeyfield changes when her father is told by the local vicar that their family is the direct descendant of a noble family called d'Urbervilles. Tess's mother suggests that Tess is to be sent to one rich d'Urbervilles family. This rich family turns out to be not the real d'Urbervilles, because they, a blind old woman and her son Alec, have bought the title and their real name is Stoke. Tess is hired to work for them and seduced by Alec. She returns home, bears a baby who soon will die, and works again in a dairy where she meets her true love: Angel Clare. They are married, but on the wedding night, Angel can't accept the fact that Tess has been with another man - an unjust fact for he just confessed to her that he had been with an older woman in the same periode when Tess was with Alec. Tess returns to her parents, but Angel says if she is in any trouble she can write to him. The troubles do come, but Tess's letters are not answered. In despair, the only way out is to go back to Alec. Despite his flaws, I actually believe that Alec does love her. And being a priest's son, I am not surprised that Angel can say to Tess: "How can we live together while that man exists? He is your natural husband, not I." - which explains Tess's action when Angel comes back to her from Brazil.

This Roman Polanski movie is very beautiful (especially the locations and cinematography) that I prefer this one than the 1998 version. In this 1979 version the importance of a horse to the Durbeyfields is not much shown, but only mentioned in several dialogues. One scene in the 1979 version which doesn't appear in the 1998 version (and I think it's one of the saddest things in the book) is when Tess visits the Clares and her boots are taken away. She has to return home with her new shoes, which are not suitable for long distance, and if I am not mistaken, it is said in the book that the new shoes are ruined after the fruitless trip. In the movie there is also a lovely scene where Tess can see the tombs of her ancestors.