Tess
This multiple-Oscar-winning film by Roman Polanski is an exquisite, richly layered adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles. A strong-willed peasant girl (Nastassja Kinski, in a gorgeous breakthrough) is sent by her father to the estate of some local aristocrats to capitalize on a rumor that their families are from the same line. This fateful visit commences an epic narrative of sex, class, betrayal, and revenge, which Polanski unfolds with deliberation and finesse. With its earthy visual textures, achieved by two world-class cinematographers—Geoffrey Unsworth (Cabaret) and Ghislain Cloquet (Au hasard Balthazar)—Tess is a work of great pastoral beauty as well as vivid storytelling.
Director-Approved Special Edition Features
- New 4K digital restoration, supervised by director Roman Polanski, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
- Once Upon a Time . . . “Tess,” a 2006 documentary about the film
- Three programs on the making of the film—From Novel to Screen, Filming “Tess,” and “Tess”: The Experience—featuring interviews with Polanski, actors Nastassja Kinski and Leigh Lawson, producer Claude Berri, costume designer Anthony Powell, composer Philippe Sarde, and others
- Interview with Polanski from a 1979 episode of The South Bank Show
- Forty-five-minute documentary shot on location for French television during the making of the film
- Trailer
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- PLUS: An essay by critic Colin MacCabe
New cover by F. Ron Miller
Director-Approved Special Edition Features
- New 4K digital restoration, supervised by director Roman Polanski, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
- Once Upon a Time . . . “Tess,” a 2006 documentary about the film
- Three programs on the making of the film—From Novel to Screen, Filming “Tess,” and “Tess”: The Experience—featuring interviews with Polanski, actors Nastassja Kinski and Leigh Lawson, producer Claude Berri, costume designer Anthony Powell, composer Philippe Sarde, and others
- Interview with Polanski from a 1979 episode of The South Bank Show
- Forty-five-minute documentary shot on location for French television during the making of the film
- Trailer
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- PLUS: An essay by critic Colin MacCabe
New cover by F. Ron Miller
Cast
- Nastassja Kinski
- Tess Durbeyfield
- Peter Firth
- Angel Clare
- Leigh Lawson
- Alec d’Urberville
- John Collin
- John Durbeyfield
- Rosemary Martin
- Joan Durbeyfield
- Carolyn Pickles
- Marian
- Richard Pearson
- Vicar of Marlott
- David Markham
- Reverend Mr. Clare
- Pascale de Boysson
- Mrs. Clare
- Caroline Embling
- Retty
- Suzanna Hamilton
- Izz
- Sylvia Coleridge
- Mrs. d’Urberville
- Tony Church
- Parson Tringham
- Lesley Dunlop
- Girl in henhouse
- Fred Bryant
- Dairyman Crick
- Dicken Ashworth
- Farmer Groby
- Patsy Smart
- Housekeeper
- John Barrett
- Old dairy hand
- Patsy Rowlands
- Landlady
Credits
- Director
- Roman Polanski
- Executive producer
- Pierre Grunstein
- Producer
- Claude Berri
- Coproducer
- Timothy Burrill
- Associate producer
- Jean-Pierre Rassam
- Screenplay
- Gérard Brach
- Screenplay
- Roman Polanski
- Screenplay
- John Brownjohn
- Based on the novel by
- Thomas Hardy
- Music
- Philippe Sarde
- Cinematography
- Geoffrey Unsworth
- Cinematography
- Ghislain Cloquet
- Film editing
- Alastair McIntyre
- Film editing
- Tom Priestley
- Production design
- Pierre Guffroy
- Costumes
- Anthony Powell
- Casting
- Mary Selway
- Production manager
- Paul Maigret
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