Tess is a 1979 epic romantic drama film directed by Roman Polanski, and starring Nastassja Kinski, Peter Firth, and Leigh Lawson.

Adapted from Thomas Hardy's 1891 novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles,[4] the screenplay was written by Gérard Brach, John Brownjohn, and Polanski.

The film received positive critical reviews upon release and was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, winning three for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.

The events of the story are set in motion when a clergyman, Parson Tringham, has a chance conversation with John Durbeyfield, a simple villager.

Tringham is a local historian, and in the course of his research he has discovered the "Durbeyfields" are descended from the d'Urbervilles, a noble family whose lineage extends to the time of William the Conqueror.

Finding a wealthy family named d'Urberville living nearby, he and his wife send their daughter Tess to call on his presumed relations, and seek employment at the manor house.

Running away to find Angel, Tess is reconciled with him; he can finally accept and embrace her as his wife without passing moral judgment on her actions.

They consummate their marriage, spending two nights of happiness together on the run from the law before Tess is captured sleeping at Stonehenge.

Polanski was inspired to make the film by his wife Sharon Tate, who gave him a copy of Tess of the d'Urbervilles.

It was the last time Polanski saw her alive, as she was departing back for America while he stayed on a while longer in Europe to finish working on a film.

Polanski wrote the screenplay in French with his usual collaborator Gérard Brach, then it was translated and expanded by John Brownjohn.

The melody played by the character Angel Clare on a recorder is a popular Polish folk song "Laura i Filon".

[16] This version recently was restored in 4K from the original negative under Polanski's supervision, and he attended its premiere at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

[19] In a review in The New York Times, Janet Maslin described Tess as "a lovely, lyrical, unexpectedly delicate movie".