The Dressmaker (2015 Film) Essay Questions

Who witnessed the death of Stewart Pettyman?

It becomes clear to Tilly that she was indeed present during the death of Stewart Pettyman, though she cannot recall what happened on that fateful day. As she learns from Teddy later in the film, Barney saw the whole thing from the silo, and can confirm that while Tilly was indirectly responsible for Stewart's death, she did not kill him. He was viciously bullying her and started charging towards her like a bull while she was up against a wall. In self-defense, she moves out of the way, and he breaks his neck on the brick. In learning this, Tilly can release herself from her confusion and guilt about the event and finally move on, knowing that she was wrongfully maligned for Stewart Pettyman's death.

What is the significance of the lighted red fabric that sets fire to Dungatar?

The practical significance of the fabric is that it razes the town to the ground; the residents come home to find that they have nothing. In this way, Tilly gives the town the same treatment they showed her as a child; after her alleged murder of Stewart, everything that she had known before was taken away from her.

There is also a visual and symbolic significance to the red fabric. Tilly first comes back into town wearing the red dress that is immediately challenging, off-putting, beautiful, and desirable to the townspeople. Throughout the film her couture dresses are a currency that she is able to use in the town to amass power. She sweeps into town wearing the red dress, and she breaks the curse it has put upon her by burning the town to the ground with the same fabric, a symbol of her rage and power as a dressmaker.

How does Teddy die?

In a tragic moment, just when Teddy and Tilly have made a commitment to one another, Teddy jumps into the silo as a romantic gesture, to show Tilly how much he loves her. As he threatens to jump in, he begs Tilly to tell him that she is not cursed, trying his hardest to get her to give up her suspicion that she is worthless and cursed. When she admits that she does not think she is cursed, he jumps in, much to her amusement. Moments later, however, Tilly realizes she cannot hear him, and that he has drowned in the wheat. Teddy dies trying to prove his love for Tilly and convince her that she is a wonderful and worthwhile person.

What advice and comfort does Molly give to Tilly to help her keep going after Teddy's death?

After Teddy dies, Tilly is nearly inconsolable, and stays in bed crying all the time. Molly gets her back on track by reminding her that she has considerable talents as a dressmaker. She tells her that she has the ability to transform people, and that that is a huge power. She also suggests that Tilly ought to use this power to enact revenge on the people in Dungatar who have wronged her. This is what inspires Tilly to get revenge on everyone in the town, to work against them in the drama competition, and to light the town on fire. After being so combative towards Tilly for the whole film, Molly becomes a loving mother and reminds her daughter to harness her talents to seek justice.

What is unique about the tone of the film?

The tone of the film switches around a lot. At times it is comic and irreverent, and other times it is tragic and heart-wrenching. The tone goes all over the place, but that is an intentional approach to the narrative, which is filled with colorful and quirky characters, macabre events, and joyful moments in equal measure. While many critics did not like how varied the tone of the film was, this was part of the filmmaker's intention, to reflect the unique twists and turns of the novel on which it was based. Tragicomedy and quirky tonalities are also trademarks of the Australian cinema in which director Jocelyn Moorhouse came up.