I realise that is most probably not an appropriate sentence to start a review with, but it is my true opinion. I appreciate fully the effort put into the movie and I can see how some people will fall in love with the film. The amount of struggles young Tess Durbeyfield (played by Justine Waddell) goes through are heart wrenching, and in various parts of the movie you are gripped by an urge to try and shake her to her senses. But it seems that fate has decided that Tess will walk the hard road through life. From a young and ripe age, Tess faces the brutal reality of the world, and goes through experiences that are to leave her scarred forever and shape her future.

The film starts portraying Tess's family poverty and difficulties. On the day of the May dance, Tess's father discovers that he is a lineal descendant of the D'Urberville family. Tess is a bashful girl, reluctant between helping her family, which is her responsibility, or finding her own happiness. As her harsh life drags on, she chooses to support her family.

She goes to work for some relatives. There she meets Alec U'Urberville (Jason Flemyng), a distant cousin who is very taken with her. One night, he takes her by force and when she looses her innocence she is never quite the same again. Alec proposes after the act, but as she does not love him, she refuses. She becomes pregnant, and her child dies, shunned by most. If she had married Alec, she could have lived in a beautiful Victorian mansion complete with wood floors and ferns in planters on pedestals. This enormous wealth is hard to refuse, seeing and living in the extreme poverty amongst her family.

A while after the death of her child, whom she Christians Sorrow, she leaves home once again to work in a farm. After her forced submission with Alec, we are led to believe that she will never love again. However, at this farm, she falls in love with Angle Clare (Oliver Milburn), whom all the other milkmaids also love. Angel falls in love with her, too, and pursues her for her hand in marriage. After numerous 'maybes' and gentle rebukes, they share a kiss and she finally agrees. However, her dark secret is eating her up, and is the reason for her initial declination.

On the night of their marriage, Tess writes a letter explaining to Angel all she had gone through, despite her mother's warnings. However, she quickly seizes it quickly back before Angel has a chance to read it. They marry the next day, and the crowing crow tells us Tess's misfortunes have not ended...

Will she confess all to Angel on their wedding night? What will happen if she does follow her heart and tell her lover all that is troubling her? This movie does leave you wanting to know how it ends with Tess... and you follow through her entire life in the three hours - that, to be honest, drag. Perhaps Ian Sharp (director) intended this, for Tess's life dragged, but that did not lessen my desire for the movie to be over. I felt it wrenching my heart and my fists clenched numerous times throughout the movie.

The viewer does wish that she had changed some of her decisions, the ones that seem so unbelievably stupid. However, who are we to judge? We did not go through what she did - most of her actions that followed were a sign of her desperation and suffering. I conclude that this is a movie I definitely do not wish to set eyes on again, never again see the sufferings of a young woman unnecessary. After a certain point in the movie I just feel that the Thomas Hardy hated Tess and wished to bestow upon her every evil he could think of. This would not be a movie I would watching again... I can think of many other things to do in three hours a lot more worth my while.

Creena
Review date: 2004-06-11 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is a fantastic video portraying Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbivilles very cleverly. This video is addictive and always makes me cry. see how Tess starts off as a innicent girl that lives with mother and father that is taken advantage of by her cousin and ends up having a baby which dies later on.
The best part is when Tess meets Angel Claire in the dairy farm. (Which might I add is played by the gorgeous Oliver Milburn!) But see how a secret that is not told can ruin everything. This is a great video, that makes a wonderful sunday lunchtime watching. The only complaint I have is that we don't see how Angel Claire gets together with Tess's sister at the end of the video, like in the story. But I would definatley get it, if not for the story then for hours of watching of Oliver Milburn!

Tess Of The D'Urbervilles [1998
Review date: 2003-08-30 Rating: 10 out of 10

excellent, enchanting and very watchable

Product Details/Specifications