MOVIE REVIEW

THE DRESSMAKER

a review by Franco P. Visser

A Screen Australia / Universal Pictures Sarah Snook), the dull daughter International / Ingenious Senior Film Fund & of Dungatar’s local General Store owner. It is not long after the match Embankment Films Presentation that some of the town’s ladies start A Film Art Media Production knocking on Tilly’s door in order Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse to be transformed by her and her Produced by Sue Maslin dressmaking skills. Naturally Tilly has her strong detractors in town, not least of f ever there was a tasteful feel-good revenge which being Evan Pettyman whose son’s death movie for those affected by a traumatic school she allegedly caused. Evan recruits Una Pleasance career, it is this one. The Dressmaker (a 2015 (played by Sacha Horler), a dress maker with far less release), a film based on the novel by Rosalie skills than Tilly posses to establish a rival dressmaking IHam, tells the story of Myrtle ‘Tilly’ Dunnage (played business in town. It goes without saying that Una’s by Kate Winslet) whose return to the town where she attempted rivalry causes some hilarious moments grew up more than ruffles a few feathers. A grown in the film, mostly due to the fact that Una is not up Tilly, an accomplished dressmaker, returns to the nearly in Tilly’s league when it comes to the art of Australian Outback town of Dungatar after years dressmaking. of absence and banishment. As a young girl Tilly was accused of causing the death of a local boy, TILLY’S DRESSMAKING SKILLS TRANSFORM Stewart Pettyman (played by Rory Porter), the son of Evan Pettyman (played by Shane Bourne), the THE DULL GERTRUDE PRATT INTO A RATHER adulterous town councillor – a murder that she HANDSOME AND ALLURING BEAUTY, AND cannot remember. AT THE FOOTBALL DANCE SHE CATCHES THE EYE OF WILLIAM BEAUMONT Upon Tilly’s return she finds her mentally ill mother Molly (played by Judy Davis) living in squalid (PLAYED BY JAMES MACKAY). WILLIAM’S conditions. Tilly sets about changing things at home MOTHER IS ONE OF EVAN PETTYMAN’S and in town, and boy does she ever! STAUNCHEST SUPPORTERS AGAINST TILLY, AND HER SON’S CLEAR INFATUATION Tilly turns up at the final of a local ‘footy’ match wearing a drop-dead gorgeous red couture WITH A TRANSFORMED GERTRUDE DOES dress of her own making, naturally to the shock NOT GO DOWN WELL. WILLIAM SOON and astonishment of the locals, not to mention ASKS GERTRUDE FOR HER HAND IN the disastrous effects that she and her revealing apparel have on the concentration of the men MARRIAGE TO THE DELIGHTFUL HORROR playing in the game. It is at this football match that OF HIS SNOBBISH MOTHER ELSBETH Tilly crosses paths with Gertrude Pratt (played by (PLAYED BY CAROLINE GOODALL).

SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 17 2018 * 65 MOVIE REVIEW

As is expected it does not take long for Evan following Stewart’s death that caused the young Pettyman’s eye to wonder towards Una, and the Tilly’s removal from her mother and her banishment two are caught ‘in the act’ by Evan’s wife Marigold from Dungatar. Tilly also finds love in Dungatar albeit (played by Alison Whyte). Evan had drugged his with heartbreaking consequences for her. wife for years following their son’s death, mostly as a means of satisfying his own sexual needs and Naturally there are many twists and turns that I to cover up his various indiscretions. How Marigold have not mentioned in this review. The Dressmaker reacts I will leave to you the viewer to discover. succeeds in taking the viewer through a range of emotions and the film is a delightful piece of TILLY LEARNS THE TRUTH OF WHAT cinematography to view. ACTUALLY HAPPENED ON THE DAY THAT STEWART PETTYMAN DIED IN ADDITION IT IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE RUN OF THE MILL TO BEING TOLD BY GERTRUDE THAT MOVIE, AND ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT NOT STEWART HAD SEVERELY BULLIED HER, A APPEAL TO EVERYONE, THE DRESSMAKER FACT THAT TILLY HAD BLOCKED FROM SURELY RANKS AS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE HER MEMORY. FILMS OF ALL TIME.

Not only was Tilly a favourite target of Stewart’s Seeing Tilly avenge the wrongs that were done to her bullying propensities, but she was also picked upon as a child is highly enjoyable, and the artistic flair of by their nasty school teacher, Beulah Harridiene the film makes it extra special. The film comes highly (played by Kerry Fox). It was Beaulah’s false affidavit recommended. Enjoy!

Franco Visser is a psychologist and former lecturer in Neuro- & Forensic Psychology at UNISA, Pretoria, South Africa and currently in private practice Correspondence: [email protected]

66 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 17 2018