MovieChat Forums > Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1998) Discussion > I just finished watching this, and... (p...

I just finished watching this, and... (possible spoiler alert)

posted 10 years ago by writerchick89
3 replies | jump to latest

I can't stop crying. I mean sobbing, unable to breathe, throat hurting like crazy, getting choked from it.

This was such a long movie, and due to certain factors, I can't always watch a movie all the way through in one sitting, so this was in two. I read the book in high school, but I only remember vague details, like the names and that she'd been raped or something. And for it to end the way it did after ALL she'd been through...it's too much for me. I know that, sadly, these kinds of things happened, and things just as sad happen today. But it's just too much.

I like sad movies sometimes, and I cry at them, but this one was just worse somehow. I am a lover of literature, but at this moment I hate books because they can break your heart. Am I weird?

"Not all who wander are lost."--J.R.R. Tolkien

[–] Shiny-NZ 10 years ago

Definitely not weird. This one tugs at the heartstrings. Tess never stood a chance. It's incredible that Hardy wrote something that still resonates today. I think it's a powerful (and incredibly bleak) novel/film.

[–] tennismenace 9 years ago

No, you are not weird.

I believe the book had a slightly different ending. Tess convinced Angel to marry her sister Lisa-liu. She told him Lisa has all of her good qualities and none of her bad ones. The last scene was them watching the black smoke go up in the air over the prison where Tess was hanged. Lisa and Angel were watching together. They left holding hands. I guess one can infer they married.

What do you think of that ending? Of course, the movie had to leave some things out being only 3 hours long, and they chose to leave that out, which I think was a good call. But, does this ending- Angel coupled with Sister Lisa- does that soften the blow a bit?

Probably not. Tess still suffered.

[–] stukate 9 years ago

I can't agree with you more. I sobbed uncontrollably when i watched it a few days ago, couldn't think of anything else, and broke down every time I thought of the ending ("Have they come for me?"). I have never been more moved or distressed after watching a movie.
You are not weird. I like sad movies too and also cry at them, but this one was worse. I also love literature, and the tragic ones always break my heart. But there's definitely something beautifully tragic about it.
"Tess" was incredible. Absolutely heart breaking, but incredible.