Tess of the D'Urbervilles

I've just finished watching it and thoroughly enjoyed it; a.coatime drama that held my attention from start to finish. Huge credit to Gemma Arterton, who played Tess, she was utterly, utterly wonderful. What a brilliant piece of casting!

I could not believe that Ruth Jones, our Nessa, played the part of her mum! She showed some real versatility. Gemma Arterton and Hans Matheson were both terrific; the acting was a major plus point.

I am a big fan of period drama; in my naivety, I was unfamiliar with this story. It began as is so often the case, sweet and mellow, nice and serene, then came the big twist, and the darker side of this drama begins to come through.

Part one was excellent; I thought the quality ran through the whole production. A quick update: I've since read the book and seen an earlier adaptation. I would suggest this adaptation holds up incredibly well; it's quite dark and definitely absorbing.

9/10.

Tess lives again to stir the 19th Century libidos of the males in Wessex, and to suffer mightily from the vanities, meanness and expectations of those same males.

I was sorry when this series ended and we said goodbye once again to the beguiling Tess, this time played by Gemma Arterton.

Comparisons to Roman Polanski's "Tess" are inevitable. For me that 1979 film is a masterpiece. If Nastassja Kinksi had only ever played that one role, she would still have a place in cinema history.

I was so moved by that film that I read the novel. Written for an audience that seemed to have far more time to read, I respect the screenwriters who adapted it for both efforts. This series incorporates more of the novel, but only by a bit. The 1979 film ran 186 mins and this four-part series was only about 22 mins longer.

The series captures Thomas Hardy's adulation of women. Check out this passage from the novel where Angel Clare (Eddie Redmayne) looks at Tess:

"Clare had studied the curves of those lips so many times that he could reproduce them mentally with ease: and now, as they again confronted him, clothed with colour and life, they sent an aura over his flesh, a breeze through his nerves, which well nigh produced a qualm ..."

However he dipped his pen into different ink when it came to the males; it makes you wonder which one he identified with. Nearly all the men are flawed, especially Alec D'Urbeville (Hans Matheson), Tess's nemesis and stalker. He is seen as more complex in this version, and his obsession with Tess given more shading. Alec aside, even the supposedly moral and upstanding men are seen as judgemental class snobs.

The women on the other hand, epitomised by strong, beautiful Tess, seem kinder, more pragmatic, better people.

Hardy's novel is infused with descriptions of folk song and dancing. This series has a score by Rob Lane, reminiscent of Richard Rodney Bennett's "Far from the Madding Crowd"; it has a more contemporary edge, but creates a haunting mood.

Finally, it all comes down to the actor playing Tess. Gemma Arteton is arresting with dark hair framing wide cheekbones and pale skin. We get why men are either besotted or confronted by her. She embodied the spirit of Hardy's heroine, against an impressive recreation of the period.

I only recently watched this when it was on TV, but have been familiar with the book for years. I was entertained enough to watch all four episodes so that's a good start.

This production has many good points, the leading among them Gemma Arterton. She is fresh, intelligent and passionate and brings just the right touch of melancholy and spiritedness to Tess. She has the right type of natural beauty so that visually she complements the emotional qualities of her portrayal quite perfectly.

In fact, most of the leading characters were well played. I especially enjoyed Hans Mathieson's Alec, the villain with heart but a twisted core.

The photographic qualities of the film are fabulous, a real luxury; but not at the expense of the story. The trials and upheavals of Tess' life are faithfully and movingly shown. I think the story works very well, about 95% of the time, as a particular tale about particular people. This is what I enjoyed about it, but Hardy's novel does more than just tell a particular tale.

For the most part, the archetypal aspects of the leads (Tess, Angel & Alec) are insufficiently hinted at. For example, I don't think it's made clear enough that Angel loves Tess because she represents an ideal of feminine purity to him - in the book he calls her things like daughter of nature and Demeter, and this is unsatisfyingly absent here. Alec's more general role as the stronger force that distorts others' lives for the sake of personal convenience or transient pleasure could also have been more thoroughly explored (but his particular villainy and perverted love are artfully and powerfully portrayed). Angel, too, is more than just a man- he stands for the middle class with uncompromising values, no compassion and unjust double standards, which lead him to see Tess' misfortune as a greater crime than his voluntary "moral holiday" in London. Tess herself is perhaps better depicted as a representation of womanhood in her time - acute and sensitive, intelligent and hard-working, yet at the mercy of forces greater than her, and made to pay for 'sins' that she is not responsible for.

Despite the above, I don't think this is a huge omission; a novel and a mini-series are two different mediums, and if the makers thought they couldn't fit all of this into their production it was as well to leave it out altogether. So overall, still worth watching.

However I also have a gripe about the last episode, where I think the writer/s really dropped the ball. After a lengthy absence in which he sends no word, Angel suddenly reappears and has done a complete about-face with respect to his feelings about Tess. What changes his mind? What happened while he was gone? This seriously undermines the credibility of everything that happens from the moment of his return, because no reason is given for his radical change of heart. I feel that the story, character development and momentum hold up very well until Angel's return- and then drop off. This is a real shame - but while disappointing it doesn't ruin the rest of the production. Nevertheless, I wouldn't go out of my way to see it again.

What a really good production this is. Technically perfect and an excellent cast. Gemma Arterton is a super actress and for me this is the best performance of her career so far. If he could, I'm certain that Hardy would agree! Her newest release "Tamara Drewe" is taken from the Simmons comic strip which in turn was inspired by Hardy's "Far From The Madding Crowd". I read that a new version of "Crowd" is in the works - if they don't have Arterton as Bathsheba Everdene they are making a serious error in my opinion. She was born to play that role. I see that one of the reviews here is personally insulting to the actress. For shame!

If you--like me--saw a review for this film/miniseries calling it "terrible" and giving it one star, IGNORE IT. This film was absolutely stunning (there's a reason it was nominated for Best Lighting, Photography & Camera) and filled with much emotion and intensity by excellent actors. Gemma Arterton is superb as the lead role and all major and minor characters play their part with dedication and are a joy to watch.

Based on the Thomas Hardy Novel, Tess of the d'Urbervilles follows the life of young, beautiful, innocent Tess and the misfortune she faces. With unforgettable characters such as the young heroine, Alec and Angel, visually appealing landscapes and emotional intensity to soften even the toughest of critics, this film is a must-see and something you are unlikely to ever forget!