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Tess (1979) Movie vs Book
Film · 1979 · Directed by Roman Polanski · Starring Nastassja Kinski, Peter Firth, Leigh Lawson
Tess (1979) Movie: Cast and Details
A young woman in rural England is ruined by a family secret and by a man who uses her.
Book vs Movie: How Close Is It?
Very close to the bookIt follows the novel's story and its tragic arc closely.
Read or watch first?
Read the novel for Hardy's language. The film is a beautiful and faithful look at it.
What the book gives you
Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
A powerful classic that is slow in places but unforgettable. It is a heavy story, so be ready for its sadness.
Who will like it: Readers who want a major Victorian novel with great descriptions of the countryside.