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Home > Festival Archives > Selections > Fiche Film

TESS

Movie Picture

Cannes Classics
Directed by :
Roman POLANSKI 
Country:
FRANCE, UNITED KINGDOM
Year:
1979
Duration:
171.00 minutes

Synopsis

In 19th century England, a Dorset peasant, John Durbeyfield, discovers by chance that he is the last surviving descendant of an aristocratic family. Eager to profit from his newfound nobility, Durbeyfield sends his eldest daughter, Tess, to press his claim of kinship with the rich d’Urberville family. The young Alec d’Urberville, captivated by the beauty of this woman he calls “cousin”, agrees to employ her and sets about trying to seduce her. Tess ends up falling prey to Alec’s advances and returns pregnant to her parents’ home. She gives birth to a boy, who dies after a few weeks.
To start anew, Tess leaves her village and finds a job on a farm where no one knows of her previous misfortune. There, she meets her true love: a pastor’s son called Angel Clare. Thinking that Tess is an innocent young peasant, he falls hopelessly in love with her, and despite the social gulf between them, asks for her hand in marriage. But on their wedding night, Tess confesses to Angel about her past. Appalled and unable to forgive her, Angel leaves Tess and sets sail for Brazil. For many months, Tess waits in desperation for her husband to return, working hard to earn enough for her family’s survival, until fate brings Alec d’Urberville back into her life.

Press kit download (PDF)

Roman POLANSKI
Roman POLANSKI

Credits

Actors

Contacts and useful links

Production

RENN PRODUCTIONS, TIMOTHY BURRIL PRODUCTIONS, SFP -

Distribution

PATHÉ DISTRIBUTION - T : +33 (0)1 71 72 30 00 - pauline.richard@pathe.com - www.pathefilms.com

French press

Emlie Imbert - T : +33 (0)6 71 88 27 65 - relationspresse@eimbert.com

Foreign sales

PATHÉ INTERNATIONAL - T : 01 71 72 30 00 - agathe.theodore@pathe.com - www.patheinternational.com

The Official Selection 2012

Cannes Classics