Tess (Classic Masterpiece Book & DVD Set)

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Summary: Exquisite, captivating, unsurpassed film adaptation of Hardy
Review: I write as someone with an English ancestry going back three centuries and a passionate love for Hardy's novels and poetry. I live within five miles of Dorset and have visited practically all the towns and villages mentioned by Hardy using his Wessex aliases. I was prepared to scoff at Tess - Polish director on the run from US police, a German girl in the title role, French locations and finance...even a mock Stonehenge. I was wrong, hopelessly wrong. Today I remain in total thrall to this movie, Roman Polanski and Nastassja Kinski. I believe it is an artistic masterpiece just as important in its own way as an Old Master painting or a Shakespearean sonnet. Tess has enriched my life, and, having it watched it at least 50 times, provides an enduring source of pleasure to me. Yes, there are moments that jar - Nastassja's occasionally-heard Teutonic accent as in "Let me see that ledder (letter)" and, in one hilarious moment, even balalaika music - but I can forgive them without the slightest hesitation. I know the area in which Hardy set Tess, and, astonishingly - as he filmed it in Normandy - Polanski has managed to recreate some Dorset settings with almost mystical skill. Marnhull, or Hardy's Marlot, for example, has a real-life church on a hill that can be seen for miles - so does the village as seen in the film. Was it accidental, or just another example of Polanski's passion for detail and authenticity for which he is justly renowned? Unfortunately, Nastassja has made some real lemons since Tess and sadly she may never turn in another performance of such outstanding brilliance. Or will she? Hardy's remaining works may give her that chance. How would she fare, for example, as Bathsheba in Far From the Madding Crowd? If you want my opinion, divinely.

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Summary: big huge plot problem
Review: If you have read Thomas Hardy's novel, you will understand that Tess's rape by Alec d'Urbervilles at the beginning of the novel is the lynchpin the rest of the novel hinges on. Tess was revolted by this man, was overcome by him, left immediately, and bore his child, who subsequently died.

Everything after that--her shame, her angst about revealing her past to Angel, and most especially her murderous act--stems from this first act of brutality.

This particular adaptation shows Tess merely finally succumbing to the attentions of Alec d'Urbervilles, staying on 4 months with him, and then whimsically deciding to leave. Hardly motive for the rest of the story's development, and I'll debate this with anybody until the cows come home.

Watch it for the fine filmmaking, for Kinkski's beauty, but for heaven's sake, if you are doing a book report, DO NOT base your report on this film. At least read the first third of the book, and get a feel for how Tess's innocence was violated. The rest of the story will feel much much more profound and tragic, which it was certainly meant to be.

And while I'm at it, here's a tidbit to throw in (for you book report researchers). Has "blaming the victim" really changed all that much since Hardy's time?

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Summary: Polanski at his best...
Review: Polanski finally won the Oscar! All of his great films are on DVD...why not this one? "Rosemary's Baby", "Chinatown", etc.Where's the DVD for "Tess", winner of many awards, and a brilliant debut for Nastassia Kinski? I want this DVD a lot.

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Summary: Where's the DVD?
Review: Tess is one of my all-time favourite films for a number of reasons. One, is that it is beautifully, and thoughtfully told by Roman Polanski; two, it is one of Nastassja's Kinski's finest performances in a varied (and underrated) career; and finally, it's one of the most stunningly photographed films ever. Which begs the question...why has there been no DVD release?

I saw a version of Tess on a French station in Quebec recently, and it was shown in widescreen, and it looked fantastic! The colors were vibrant and the film had never looked better.

I imagine there are probably some issues over rights to this film and that is why it is being delayed from a DVD release, but I hope they can work it out (or whatever it is that is preventing its DVD release).

Still, worth seeing on VHS though.

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Summary: A Disappointing Interpretation of an Important Literary Work
Review: The main problem I had with this dated film was motion. Overall, it was quite dull, and even plot elements from the book that kept my attention left me tired of the 3 hour film. I will admit that the movie followed the storyline of the book faithfully, however some key portions were left out. It could be said that reading Hardy's original novel is a prerequisite for viewing the film, because some of the movie could be quite confusing without knowledge of the book. One major redeeming quality that I noted was this: There was one important element that was retained between the book and the film, and that was how out-of-touch Victorian people seem to have been with their emotions. Many characters, Tess especially, seem quite passive, which, while it IS a period characteristic, works to dull the movie. In summation, this film is an accurate, but uninspiring rendition of a historically important piece of literature.

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Summary: Loyal to the novel (for the most part)
Review: Warning: Spoilers.
The one major complaint I have about this movie is its tendency to drag on. Many scenes were slow-as-life, showing Tess walking through a field or thoughtfully gazing off into space. Although I felt that the film was moving unnecessarily slow, I was certainly never bored. My attention was kept, I believe, by the fact that I had read Hardy's novel prior to watching the movie. For the most part, Polanski stayed true to Hardy's story and intentions with the exception of two major themes. First, I felt that Polanski didn't make it clear that Tess felt an extreme responsibility to work for her family as a result of her accident that killed their horse, Prince. The fact that they had lost their horse was mentioned in the film, but I felt that an integral reason for Tess's leaving home to work for the D'Urbervilles was because she felt responsible for her family's financial woes. The second major departure from the book was the fact that Tess submitted to Alec in the woods. Hardy made it abundantly clear that Tess was disgusted with the man. In the film, Tess willingly kissed Alec back for a long while before he took advantage of her, thus leading to her misfortune throughout the rest of the story.
As a high school student, I realize that many students watch the film versions of novels before writing a paper. I must strongly recommend against this. While the film follows the plot of the novel almost exactly, there are many elements presented in the book that even the most masterful filmmaker could not be able to incorporate, such as Tess's helplessness, Angel's self-confidence, and Alec's wild lust. All of these characteristics are magnified much greater in the novel.
As a whole, I am impressed with Polanski's ability to stay relatively true to the classic novel. If you have read the novel and can get past the two major flaws that I mentioned, you should enjoy the movie because it is a decent stand alone film.