It is a 1920’s melodrama, pure and simple. Councillor Evan Pettyman is an official in the small town of Dungatar, Australia. He blames his then nine-year-old illegitimate daughter Myrtle “Tillie” Dunnage for the death of his young natural son Stewart. The two children were playing when Stewart was found dead in unexplained circumstances. The traumatized young girl does not remember the incident. Pettyman paints the girl as “cursed” and her banishes her to Europe where she grows up in Paris and masters the art of dressmaking.
Tillie returns after 25 years to her hometown seeking truth, redemption, and revenge. She finds her addled, aged mother “Mad Molly” bearing the scars of Tillie’s condemnation. She moves in to help her.
Appearing in a sequence of alluring costumes, Tillie designs a dress that makes a Cinderella change in Gertrude Pratt, a plain shopkeeper’s daughter. Her ‘ Prince Charming, the rich and handsome William Beaumont, then becomes easy pickings.
The town’s women flock to Tillie’s small shop seeking similar transformations. Along the way she meets local Teddy (Liam Hemsworth) and they fall in love. Teddy’s dull-witted brother, Barney, reveals that he witnessed the incident involving young Tillie and Stewart and exonerates her from any involvement in the death. Tillie’s memory is shocked back into affirmation.
The romance with Teddy abruptly ends with his death as he tries a stunt to prove his love.
After her mother’s death, Tillie has no reason to stay. She leaves with the only baggage she came with: a sewing machine.
“The Dressmaker” is typical Australian: Prolonged shots that involve sweeps of natural backgrounds. You know you are in for a down-to-earth plot where the hero comes out a winner. Interiors are spare. Closeups are commonplace of Tillie who drags on a cigarette like it was a heaven sent instrument.
Kate Winslet is the star of the show and is an Oscar -winning actress. However, she is best known for her work as the female lead in “The Titanic.”
There is no Australian accent to muddy up the audio. This belies some authenticity, but it sure makes listening a lot easier.
The publicized genre of “The Dressmaker” is comedy-drama. I did not see much comedy. Characters are chisel cut and I like that. Give this show a try. It is currently running at
The Old Mill Playhouse in The Villages.
Jack Petro reviews movies for Villages-News.com
