After nearly 20 years, Australian filmmaker Jocelyn Moorhouse (Proof) returns with a vengeance to bring us The Dressmaker, where a dynamic 1950’s haute-couturist leaves the world of high fashion to return to her hometown in outback Australia.
Based on Rosalie Ham’s novel of the same name, this definitely reminded me of some of the fantastic kitsch Australian comedies of the 90s. Perhaps this could be because Moorehouse wrote the screenplay with her husband PJ Hogan, who has comedy hits like Muriel’s Wedding (1994) behind his name.
We are taken back to 1951. Looking over Australia’s sweeping golden wheat fields, we see a big old silver bus groan its way in to the dusty country town of Dungatar. As it stops, a sleek blonde in black sunglasses and a stylish red creation emerges and calmly put her Singer sewing machine on the ground. She lights a cigarette and declares: “I’m back, you bastards”.
It’s Tilly Dunnage, formally known as Muriel, played by impressive Titanic star, Kate Winslet. She has returned supposedly to care for her mother, who is referred to by the locals as “Mad Molly”, (played by legendary Australian actress Judy Davis, who nearly takes the show!) – but perhaps there is more to Tilly’s return. When she was 10 years old, Tilly was allegedly responsible for the death of a schoolboy, so she has returned to remember things and work out what actually happened.
On her arrival, Tilly can tell that no-one trusts her as she meets the city folk again. Here we see the brilliant supporting cast, led by the fashion-obsessed cross dressing Sergeant Farrat (Hugo Weaving) followed by the geriatric religious villain, chemist Percival Almanac (Barry Otto) and the local shopkeeper’s oversexed middle aged wife Muriel Pratt (a very funny Rebecca Gibney). Then, in what I think is his most charismatic role to date, Liam Hemsworth appears as the local spunk Teddy.
Tilly really stands out as a complete glamazon amongst the dowdy townswomen and she decides to help the shopkeeper’s rather frumpy daughter Gertrude Pratt (Sarah Snook) from a real “Plain Jane” to a complete stunner. This immediately draws the attention of the rest of the drab but vane people of Dungatar. Tilly is then drawn into the community that she soon turns into a fashion hub when she sets up her dressmaking business.
Depending on your sense of humour, you might love this, but you may not. I saw this in a usual media screening with variety of Adelaide reviewers who all seemed to find it very funny, (perhaps the women more than the men!) but maybe we all have the same warped sense of humour!
If you like your dramatic romantic comedies, especially full of the who’s-who of Australian performers, I’m pretty sure you’ll like this one too!
Reviewed by Kirstey Whicker
Rating out of 10: 7.5
The Dressmaker will screen again tonight, 16 October 2015 at part of the Adelaide Film Festival, running 15-25 October 2015.
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