In late 19th-century England, Jude aspires to be an academic, but is hobbled by his blue-collar background. Instead, he works as a stonemason and is trapped in an unloving marriage to a farmer's daughter named Arabella. But when his wife leaves him, Jude sees an opportunity to improve himself. He moves to the city and begins an affair with his married cousin, Sue, courting tragedy every step of the way.
Acting
Winslet's Sue shimmers with defiant fragility.
Cinematography
Bleak English light as emotional prison.
Writing
Hardy's rage intact, Winterbottom unflinching.
Director
Michael Winterbottom
Kate Winslet
Sue Bridehead
Christopher Eccleston
Jude Fawley
Liam Cunningham
Phillotson
Rachel Griffiths
Arabella
June Whitfield
Aunt Drusilla
James Nesbitt
Uncle Joe
Paul Bown
Uncle Jim
Berwick Kaler
Farmer Troutham
Paul Copley
Mr. Willis
Ken Jones
Mr Biles
Emma Turner
Sarah
Caitlin Bossley
Anny
Mark Lambert
Tinker Taylor
Vernon Dobtcheff
Curator
Roger Ashton-Griffiths
Auctioneer
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The pig scene used a real carcass; Eccleston nearly quit. Method acting or trauma? You decide.
Released same year as Winslet's Titanic—Hollywood made her a star while Winterbottom showed her range. Jude vanished; Jack Dawson lived forever. There's the tragedy.
US
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