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Tess

Tess

She was born into a world where they called it seduction, not rape. What she did would shatter that world forever.

19797.12h 52m

Overview

A strong-willed peasant girl is sent by her father to the estate of some local aristocrats to capitalize on a rumour that their families are from the same line. This fateful visit commences an epic narrative of sex, class, betrayal, and revenge.

Directed by Roman Polanski
Written by Gérard Brach, Roman Polanski, John Brownjohn
Produced by Claude Berri
Box OfficeBudget: $12.0MRevenue: $20.1M

Top Cast

Nastassja Kinski

Nastassja Kinski

Tess Durbeyfield

Peter Firth

Peter Firth

Angel Clare

Leigh Lawson

Leigh Lawson

Alec d'Urberville

John Collin

John Collin

John Durbeyfield

Rosemary Martin

Rosemary Martin

Mrs. Durbeyfield

Carolyn Pickles

Carolyn Pickles

Marian

Richard Pearson

Richard Pearson

Vicar of Marlott

D

David Markham

Reverend Mr. Clare

Pascale de Boysson

Pascale de Boysson

Mrs. Clare

Suzanna Hamilton

Suzanna Hamilton

Izz Huett

Themes & Keywords

rapebased on novel or bookpeasantmarriageloverevengemurdermansionfamilyfarmernobilitysocial climbingaristocraticstrongstonehenge19th century

About Tess

Tess is a drama, romance film released in 1979 exploring themes of rape, based on novel or book, peasant, marriage, love, revenge. Directed by Roman Polanski, it stars Nastassja Kinski, Peter Firth, Leigh Lawson. A strong-willed peasant girl is sent by her father to the estate of some local aristocrats to capitalize on a rumour that their families are from the same line. This fateful visit commences an epic narrative of sex, class, betrayal, and revenge.

Movies Similar to Tess

Discover titles like Tess — ranked by similarity and community votes

We found 15 movies similar to Tess

If you enjoyed Tess, you'll love these handpicked recommendations. Each title below shares similar themes, tone, and storytelling style. Our algorithm analyzes genres, keywords, director filmography, and cast connections to find the closest matches. Whether you're looking for the same emotional depth, narrative structure, or visual style, these picks are curated to deliver the best viewing experience for fans of Tess.

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Young orphan Heathcliff is adopted by the wealthy Earnshaw family and moves into their estate, Wuthering Heights. Soon, the new resident falls for his compassionate foster sister, Cathy. The two share a remarkable bond that seems unbreakable until Cathy, feeling the pressure of social convention, suppresses her feelings and marries Edgar Linton, a man of means who befits her stature. Heathcliff vows to win her back.

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Young orphan Heathcliff is adopted by the wealthy Earnshaw family and moves into their estate, Wuthering Heights. Soon, the new resident falls for his compassionate foster sister, Cathy. The two share a remarkable bond that seems unbreakable until Cathy, feeling the pressure of social convention, suppresses her feelings and marries Edgar Linton, a man of means who befits her stature. Heathcliff vows to win her back.

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Valmont(1989)

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Set in Baroque France, a scheming widow and her lover make a bet regarding the corruption of a recently married woman. The lover, Valmont, bets that he can seduce her, even though she is an honorable woman. If he wins, he can have his lover to do as he will. However, in the process of seducing the married woman, Valmont falls in love.

Far from the Madding Crowd
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Desert Hearts
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While waiting for her divorce papers, a repressed literature professor finds herself unexpectedly attracted by a carefree, spirited young woman named Cay.

Jane Eyre
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Jane Eyre(1996)

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After a bleak childhood, Jane Eyre goes out into the world to become a governess. As she lives happily in her new position at Thornfield Hall, she meets the dark, cold, and abrupt master of the house, Edward Rochester. Jane and her employer grow close in friendship and she soon finds herself falling in love with him. Happiness seems to have found Jane at last, but could Rochester's terrible secret be about to destroy it forever?

Brideshead Revisited
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Befriended by aristocrat Sebastian Flyte, Oxford student Charles Ryder finds that the power and privilege experienced by the family is seductive. On a visit to the ancestral home, Brideshead, he falls in love with his friend's sister, Julia. However, as his ties to the Flytes deepen, Ryder finds himself at odds with their strong Roman Catholicism.

Howards End
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A saga of class relations and changing times in an Edwardian England on the brink of modernity, the film centers on liberal Margaret Schlegel, who, along with her sister Helen, becomes involved with two couples: wealthy, conservative industrialist Henry Wilcox and his wife Ruth, and the downwardly mobile working-class Leonard Bast and his mistress Jackie.