Tess

film by Polanski [1979]

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July 19, 2026

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The 1979 film Tess, directed by Roman Polanski, is an adaptation of Thomas Hardy's novel Tess of the d’Urbervilles. The story centers on Tess Durbeyfield, a young woman whose life takes a dramatic turn when her family discovers its noble lineage. This revelation leads her into an entanglement with a neighbor who shares her family's aristocratic name. The film explores themes of innocence and the impact of societal discovery on an individual's fate.12

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Roman Polanski
His subsequent films include Tess (1979), based on Thomas Hardy’s novel Tess of the d’Urbervilles; Frantic (1988), a suspense film; Bitter Moon (1992), an erotic comedy; and Death and the Maiden (1994), a psychological drama adapted from a play by the Chilean author Ariel Dorfman. In 1989 Polanski married…
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His subsequent films include Tess (1979), based on Thomas Hardy’s novel Tess of the d’Urbervilles; Frantic (1988), a suspense film; Bitter Moon (1992), an erotic comedy; and Death and the Maiden (1994), a psychological drama adapted from a play by the Chilean author Ariel Dorfman. In 1989 Polanski married…
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Sharon Tate
Legacy
…dedication “For Sharon,” his film Tess (1979) was crafted as a tribute to Tate, as it was she who had encouraged Polanski to read Thomas Hardy’s novel Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891) and recognized its silver-screen potential.
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…dedication “For Sharon,” his film Tess (1979) was crafted as a tribute to Tate, as it was she who had encouraged Polanski to read Thomas Hardy’s novel Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891) and recognized its silver-screen potential.
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