Tess
Seen it?1979 | 172 min | Drama, Romance
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It won 3 Oscars, it earned strong reviews (81% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for romantics. If you loved Pride & Prejudice or The Bridges of Madison County, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Warm and romantic.
- The pace
- Unhurried and epic, at 2 hr 52 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- It's long: 2 hr 52 min.
- Made in 1979: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
81% on Rotten Tomatoes, 82 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 3 Oscars: Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design. Also nominated for 3 more Oscars. Plus 2 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$20 million worldwide on a $12 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 122K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Roman Polanski
- Nastassja KinskiTess Durbeyfield
- Peter FirthAngel Clare
- Leigh LawsonAlec d'Urberville
- John CollinJohn Durbeyfield
- Rosemary MartinMrs. Durbeyfield
- Carolyn PicklesMarian
- Richard PearsonVicar of Marlott
- David MarkhamReverend Mr. Clare
- Pascale de BoyssonMrs. Clare
- Suzanna HamiltonIzz Huett