Jude (film)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Jude is a 1996 English film, based on the novel Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy and directed by Michael Winterbottom, who also directed The Claim, another Hardy-based movie, in 2000. It tells the story of a stonemason pursuing the cousin he loves even though both are married. The screenplay is written by Hossein Amini. The original music score is composed by Adrian Johnston.
The film gained notoriety for a scene in which Kate Winslet's character is shown giving birth in graphic detail, a scene in which she appeared full-frontal nude.
Plot summary
In the Victorian period, Jude Fawley (Eccleston) is a young man with dreams of receiving a scholarly university education. Circumstances conspire against him, however, forcing him into a job as a stonemason and an unsatisfactory marriage to a country girl, Arabella (Griffiths). He remains true to his dream, however, and months later, after his wife's sudden departure, heads for the city, where he thinks education lies for any man who is willing to work hard. There he encounters his beautiful cousin, Sue Bridehead (Winslet), who shares his intelligence and disdain for convention, and the two develop a romantic relationship. These unlikely lovers must struggle to keep their relationship from a disapproving world, however, or else face the tragic consequences of public scandal.
Main cast
- Christopher Eccleston || Jude Fawley
- Kate Winslet || Sue Bridehead
- Liam Cunningham || Phillotson
- Rachel Griffiths || Arabella
- June Whitfield || Aunt Drusilla
Marketing
Taglines used to advertise the film include:
- "His world could never change... until she became his world."
- "A time without pity. A society with mercy. A love without equal."
- "It is a difficult question to answer... Whether to follow your dreams... Or to let life lead you where it will."
