The Dressmaker

We've all seen films in which a certain amount of revenge must be exacted to make things right, but typically they end up going awry and start falling apart. As I went to see "The Dressmaker", I went through a bit of trepidation thinking, since this is a 'revenge' film, will I really like this? To be honest, I originally wanted to see this for the cast, but the storyline was intriguing. So I went and was pleasantly surprised.

An accomplished dressmaker named Myrtle 'Tilly' Dunnage (Kate Winslet) returns to her backwoods hometown in 1950's Australia, which she fled at a young age after she was accused of murdering a boy. While running a local dress shop, Tilly investigates the murder mystery that ruined her life, and plans her revenge on those responsible.
Through reconnecting with certain residents of Dungatar, the name of the small town, she gets to know Teddy McSwiney (Liam Hemsworth) once again. She did have a degree of admiration for him since she came to realize that he was responsible for looking in on Tilly's mother, Molly (Judy Davis) to make sure she was alright. Through her investigating, she picked the brain of the town's Sergeant Farrat (Hugo Weaving) in extracting information of what actually happened that fateful day of the killing of the boy, and she was able to transform the different women of the community using her dressmaking talents so as to establish their trust.

Others to round out the cast are Sarah Snook as Gertrude 'Trudy' Pratt, Caroline Goodall as Elsbeth, Kerry Fox as Beulah Harridiene, Rebecca Gibney as Muriel Pratt, James Mackay as William Beaumont, Hayley Magnus as Prudence, Gyton Grantley as Barney McSwiney, Teddy's brother, Julia Blake as Irma Almanac, Shane Jacobson as Alvin Pratt, Barry Otto as Percival Almanac and Sacha Horler as Una Pleasance.

This was directed with clarity and a certain amount of wit by Jocelyn Moorhouse ("Pavane" '83, "Proof" '91, "How to Make an American Quilt" '95, "A Thousand Acres" '97). The coolness that Winslet's Tilly exuded was amazingly executed with enough confidence without her looking pompous. Moorhouse doesn't work constantly, but what she's done is eclectic and extremely interesting. It was also written by Moorhouse (" Pavane" '83, "Proof" '91, "Unconditional Love" '02) plus TV. What makes this storyline well laid out is the fact that as she is pouring her heart out with her mother, Tilly relives, little by little, the fateful day of the boy's murder. It's like she shut a lot out because she didn't want to relive it again. Her over confidence is quite evident as she spews out the first line in the film: "I'm back you bastards". This is said as she steps off the bus she arrives in when it enters the town. The combination of drama and the dry comedic moments were executed with finesse, whereas when the comic moments happened, you weren't exactly expecting them. Other than a couple of very small slow places in script, this screenplay was well delineated. There were surprises (both good and bad) that will keep you riveted to the screen, and the different character development was pulled off with finesse, but considering the phenomenal cast, it's no wonder.

What truly makes this film rock is the directing, the way the writer handled a 'revenge' film unlike we've seen prior, and the acting, specifically by Winslet. Her confidence and vulnerability she exuded was something that could be up for consideration come Oscar time. It's a stylish film that is about love, revenge and haute couture.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                Rated: R                                  118mins.