Written by Jocelyn Moorhouse & P.J Hogan
Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse
Myrtle: "I'm back, you bastards!"
Ever fancied a film described as "Unforgiven with a sewing machine?" Odd as it might sound, that's probably the easiest way to describe this quirky movie, in which Kate Winslet plays the titular dressmaker with a very chequered past who after 25 years has come home to look after her mother, Molly Dunnage (Judy Davis) in the fictional outback town of Dungatar.
Winslet's Myrtle or Tilly as she's largely referred to during the movie has a lot of old ghosts, as she was previously accused of the death of a young boy when she was only ten herself and taken away by the regretful Sgt Farrat (Hugo Weaving) who forms a rather endearing bond with Tilly as well as getting the chance to make it up to her during the end of the movie.
Of course while most of the locals don't take kindly to Tilly's return, they soon begin to tolerate her when they see her dressmaking skills in full fashion. Even the rather spoiled Gertrude Pratt (Sarah Snook) would rather have Tilly make her wedding dress than the rather talentless Una Pleasance (Sacha Horler). Of course this doesn't mean that Tilly is loved or even forgiven for the crime she did not actually commit by the locals.
The same locals who have no issue remaining hostile towards Tilly even after the latter realised that local gossip Beulah Harridiene (Kerry Fox) lied about her involvement and the one person who genuinely loved her - Teddy McSwiney (Liam Hemsworth) also dies rather tragically, quickly followed by her mother of course.
Tilly spends a good portion of the movie believing she's cursed and with the tragedy she's endured, you can see why she feels that way. Molly countered that it was the unforgiving locals who are the curse themselves and even before death, she managed to help Tilly get some revenge on them.
As the movie winds down, we see some of the locals like Beulah, local councilman Evan Pettyman (Shane Bourne) getting their just desserts before Tilly herself gets her last revenge on the town that made her life a living hell in a rather spectacularly camp manner. It's an extremely over the top moment that could be seen as a mood killer but personally I found it a delightful sense of retribution in light of the circumstances.
- The movie is based on a book of the same name by Rosalie Ham, who intended for it to be made into a movie.
- Both Kate Winslet and Judy Davis were envisioned for the roles they ended up being cast in.
- Standout music: People Will Say We're In Love by Gordan McRae/Shirley Jones, Lover Man by Billie Holiday and Bang Bang by Lanie Lane.
- Chronology: 1926 for the flashbacks and 1951 for the main action in the movie.
The Dressmaker is certainly an underrated gem of a movie. Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Hugo Weaving and Liam Hemsworth are all on fine form, it alternates between being playful and funny to outright dark and traumatic with a nice dash of theatricality for good measure. Definitely worth a watch.
Rating: 8 out of 10
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