The Dressmaker

I was sorry that the director could not reconcile the absurdities like from The Big Fish with a typical family drama from a small Australian town. The film just didn’t know which way to go, and the same was true for its humor. It’s very unsure of itself for a long time and then serves you a scene that makes you laugh like crazy. And then there’s nothing for a long time again. Even though dramatically, I daresay it is a family drama so tragic and epic that you’d hardly find its match in cinema. When such a drama turns out well, it is an unforgettable experience. I won’t forget The Dressmaker either, but I’ll keep my rating at solid three stars. (30/07/2019)

I was entertained throughout, the characters strongly reminded me of those in The Government Inspector. As a bonus, there’s Agent Smith/Elrond as a transvestite. Unlike some movies, this was far from a waste of time. (20/06/2016)

The Dressmaker is a somewhat unconventional mix of comedy and drama, with the first half introducing the audience to various quirky characters from a small Australian outback town, while the second half rides more on the dramatic wave. Themes such as revenge, the search for truth, prejudice, human limitations and the behaviour of individuals as sheep in a flock permeate the entire film. Personally, I didn't mind the somewhat sharp genre transitions, in fact I welcomed them, because they made the film rather unique. I both laughed my heart out while watching it and my eyes glazed over, which doesn't happen that often. There is only one thing to say about Kate Winslet's performance: perfect! The same goes for Hugo Weaving and Judy Davis in supporting roles. In short, a very well made film, with a lot of emotions – joy, amusement, indignation, but also sadness – proof that this is not some mediocre one-off that will fade like steam over a pot. (10/04/2016)

An unassuming film, whose beginning didn't really impress me, but gradually managed to absolutely captivate me and I was just staring at what I was watching. Beautifully stylized, sometimes brilliantly absurd, but above all, outstanding is the stunning and literally breathtaking Kate Winslet, who didn't even have to undress this time. A beautiful comedy, quite dark, but excellent. (11/04/2016)

The Dressmaker is a peculiar mix of social drama addressing childhood traumas, forced separation and painful alienation from a family, with a crazy comedy in which we are supposed to laugh at Hugo Weaving campily frolicking around in women’s clothing. For me, these are two irreconcilable film universes, at least in this eccentric, unrestrained Australian take. Someone like Sam Mendes might have been able to pull it off. (11/04/2016)