Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Irreverent dramedy about revenge deals with abuse.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Dressmaker
What's the Story?
Apparently, you can go home again. That is, you can if you're Tilly Dunnage (Kate Winslet), aka THE DRESSMAKER. Her mother, Molly (Judy Davis), barely remembers her, and the entire town of Dungatar, Australia, appears to hate her. Tilly thinks she's cursed: Shipped off as a child when she was found standing next to a dead schoolmate, she suffers from feelings of guilt over a murder she doesn't remember committing. Her goal is to piece together the fragments of her memories in a town that has never been very kind to her or her mother. And she wants to find out once and for all if she truly is responsible for the terrible crime that people say she committed. Liam Hensworth co-stars as a young man who sees beyond Tilly's reputation.
Is It Any Good?
Revenge is a dish best served fashionably attired and ready to pounce in this wacky, sometimes cynical, and often winning examination of forgiveness, revenge, and everything in between. It's also a treat, simply because it takes you to unexpected places in unexpected ways. There's nothing that you could call boring in The Dressmaker. Its bold disregard for the cliched rules of Hollywood storytelling keeps the film energetic, if a little too expansive sometimes. In short, The Dressmaker -- if you'll pardon the pun -- is a near-perfect fit.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the different kinds of abuse portrayed in The Dressmaker, from childhood bullying to sexual assault within a marriage. How does it deal with these hot-button topics?
How does the film depict small-town living? Do you think it's accurate?
What role do drinking and smoking play in the story? Are they glamorized?
How do the residents of Dungatar treat Tilly when she returns? Are they being cruel, or are their reactions justified?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 23, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : December 27, 2016
- Cast : Kate Winslet , Liam Hemsworth , Hugo Weaving , Judy Davis
- Director : Jocelyn Moorhouse
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studios : Amazon Studios , Broad Green Pictures
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 118 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : brief language and a scene of violence
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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