Jude – 1996 | 123 mins | Drama | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Michael Winterbottom’s uncompromising period drama effectively captures the weight of Thomas Hardy’s sombre source novel Jude the Obscure. Harsh and uncompromising viewing – check out the birthing scene – those of gentle spirit should beware the intense tragedy overload.

In 19th century Britain, unconventional Jude Fawley (Christopher Eccleston) aspires to university life but has a grim old time of it. Stymied from the off by a brief, lust-filled marriage to worldly wench Arabella (Rachel Griffiths), Jude becomes an apprentice stonemason in Christminster and falling for beautiful and liberated cousin Sue Bridehead (Kate Winslet), only to wind up with a life of hopeless jealousy and unrequited love when she marries Jude’s early schoolmaster, Richard Phillotson (Liam Cunningham).