The Dressmaker (2015)

A glamorous woman returns to her small town in rural Australia. With her sewing machine and haute couture style, she transforms the women and exacts sweet revenge on those who did her wrong.

Director:

Jocelyn Moorhouse

Writers:

Rosalie Ham (based on the novel by), Jocelyn Moorhouse

Stars:

Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Liam Hemsworth

15 wins & 38 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kate Winslet	...	Tilly Dunnage
Judy Davis	...	Molly Dunnage
Liam Hemsworth	...	Teddy McSwiney
Hugo Weaving	...	Sergeant Farrat
Julia Blake	...	Irma Almanac
Shane Bourne	...	Evan Pettyman
Kerry Fox	...	Beulah Harridiene
Rebecca Gibney	...	Muriel Pratt
Caroline Goodall	...	Elsbeth Beaumont
Gyton Grantley	...	Barney McSwiney
Tracy Harvey	...	Lois Pickett
Sacha Horler	...	Una Pleasance
Shane Jacobson	...	Alvin Pratt
Geneviève Lemon	...	Mae McSwiney
James Mackay	...	William Beaumont

Storyline

Based on Rosalie Ham's best selling novel, The Dressmaker is the story of femme fatale Tilly Dunnage who returns to her small home town in the country to right the wrongs of the past. A stylish drama with comic undertones about love, revenge and haute couture.

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Plot Keywords:

f rated | australia | bare chested male | dressmaker | 1950s | 

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Taglines:

A film about love, revenge and haute couture.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for brief language and a scene of violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 October 2015 (Australia)

Also Known As:

El poder de la moda

Filming Locations:

Docklands Studios, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD 17,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$185,165, 25 September 2016, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,021,399, 16 December 2016

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,715,078, 30 October 2016

Company Credits

Production Co:

Screen Australia,Film Art Media,White Hot Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Spent 13 years in development before filming began.

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Goofs

The wisteria on Molly and Tilly's front porch appears to be blooming. It is impossible for blooms to be on a lifeless vine in a dusty, desert like place. The blooms are fake and so is the vine. The vine lacks the twisting nature of wisteria.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Myrtle 'Tilly' Dunnage: [standing in the nighttime street] I'm back, you bastards.

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Crazy Credits

Windmill squeak is heard at then end of the credits.

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Connections

Features Sunset Blvd. (1950)

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Soundtracks

Meet Me With Your Black Dress On
Written by Jimmy Nelson (as Nelson) and Jules Bihari (as Bihari)
Produced & Recorded by Shane O'Mara featuring Chris Wilson

User Reviews

Any ideas why this masterpiece was snubbed at the Oscars?

This is hands down the best film in the English language I've seen for at least two years. Not only does it do its source absolute justice, it adds a genuine, highly original Oz visual atmosphere to its themes. The cast is nothing short of amazing, with every single character bringing the utmost of their craft to the roles. Judy Davis delivers one of the best performances of her illustrious career, but Kate Winslet, Kerry Fox and Sarah Snook are also fantastic. Liam Hemsworth isn't just hotter than Chris, he's also the far more nuanced thespian. Hugo Weaving, one of the best actors of his generation, sinks his teeth into his beefy part of an exceedingly well-mannered cop in the 1950's Oz outback.

Winslet is the mysterious stranger arriving by night whom he delivers her luggage to in the beginning of the film. He quickly recognizes her as the girl he sent away following the death of a boy her age 25 years earlier. The townsfolk, including her quick-tempered mother played by Davis, alternate between suspicion of the motives of her return and attraction for her stunning dressmaking skills and resolute character.

Some people will find the meandering story, which constantly shifts between mystery, comedy, tragedy and romance hard to follow. It's their own fault. Everyone else will highly appreciate the original story, the excellent camera work and set design, the abundance of love shown in every frame for a project that took 15 years to realize. Its domestic success as the 2nd most successful film of 2015 after you-know-which-one could not be more deserved.

One can therefore only wonder why the Adacemy snubbed this for the Oscars, especially if you look at the usual suspects which represent the contenders this year. And as justified as the #OscarsSoWhite debate is, this omission also reminds us of another group of movie artists which are all too often absent from the list of nominees: Women. For what makes "The Dressmaker" so highly enjoyable on top of its original story, local feel and excellent cast, is that it offers a feminine angle of storytelling which we do not get to see enough.