Tess Of The D'Urbervilles 2008

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A vid in honor of the BBC miniseries of Thomas Hardy's most famous novel. Music by the Medieval Baebes, with photos courtesy of GemmaArterton.net and BBC.

I consider this version to be my second favorite, with the 1998 A&E/LondonWeekendTelevision miniseries being first, but this one has a lot going for it. There are some weak spots (I found Eddie Redmayne stiff and unconvincing as Angel, there was a lack of romantic feeling between Tess and Angel, and some of the modernization of dialogue misfire), but overall it's a beautiful adaptation, Gemma Arterton was magnificent as Tess, as was Hans Matheson as Alec d'Urberville. The supporting cast is also wonderful, and a lovely musical score by Rob Lane.

You can read my full review of the BBC presentation here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1186342/usercomments-7

The production was marred somewhat by a fire that destroyed many of the costumes intended for the film, but the crew picked up the pieces and kept going. It was shot on location in Dorset, as was the 1998 version. The DVD was released in October in the UK, January 13 in the US but here in Canada we had to wait until February 3! Grrrrrrrrr!

Here's the translation of the lyrics of one of the songs used:

If before I was beautiful
And of good reputation
Now I am turned from high to low:
For I am given in marriage to a churlish man
All because of his great wealth,
And I should die, if I did not have a noble lover
To whom I could tell my distress,
And a pleasing watchman
To sound the dawn for me
During the long and dark night,
Which is never too long for me,
I am, despite the cold weather,
A restless watchman over lovers discretion,
Until the first light, I stand guard
To protect my friend,
Then I urge with my cry:
Beware, here comes the dawn.


Hope everyone's having a great new year so far!

Enjoy!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Tess
• Of
• The
• D'Urbervilles
• 2008
• OneTrueMedia

[Muirmaiden]

Yes, there was divorce but women did not have the option to divorce their husbands then. Husbands could divorce wives on certain grounds, not the other way around.

[Vercippu]

somebady tell me, how she can marry ALec if she's already married!!???

[Muirmaiden]

@Vercippu, she wasn't married to Alec - there was no divorce for women in Britain at that time. She was really Alec's mistress, Alec just let people think they were married. Tess was still legally married to Angel.

[milayakaterina]

who knows what is the name of song in part 2 when girls singing for the cows

[Muirmaiden]

@milayakaterina, it's a traditional folk song, "The Snow It Melts The Soonest" - Annie Briggs and Cara Dillon have recorded versions of it.

[serketstudios]

Beautiful job! I agree with your review as well - this remake remains one of the most haunting things I have ever seen.

Sorry to bother but I was wondering what the name/artist of the first song is? I tried finding it on my own but failed :(

[Muirmaiden]

@serketstudios, Thank you! All three songs are performed by the Medieval Baebes - the first song is "Umlahi".

[astridbelge]

she is so exquisitely beautiful

[olusiaczeq94]

do you know when i can find original songs from film ?

there is any soundtrack?

[Persephonie22]

Wonderful video and exellent music of the old world but I am curious. What langues is this? =)~

[Persiansweetcat1]

I was so touched by this movie. It was just so sad at the end. Poor poor girl didn't do anything and she suffered so much. Wunderful soundtrack by the way