Kate Winslet in The Dressmaker.
Director Jocelyn Moorhouse has wrapped production on feature film The Dressmaker, which has been shooting at Docklands Studio Melbourne and various locations in Victoria for the past eight weeks.
Set in the 1950s, the movie follows Myrtle "Tilly" Dunnage (Kate Winslet) who returns to her hometown in the Australian countryside to take care of her sick mother (Judy Davis), after being exiled when she was ten years old because of false accusations of murder. Having since become an expert dressmaker in Paris, Tilly transforms the town members with her couture creations and in the process, exacts revenge on the people who wrongly accused her of murder all those years ago.
The film also stars Liam Hemsworth and Hugo Weaving, as well as featuring Rebecca Gibney, Kerry Fox , Caroline Goodall, Gyton Grantley, Sacha Horler, Shane Jacobson, Sarah Snook and Barry Otto.
“Working with Kate, Judy, Liam and Hugo was wonderful,” Moorhouse said in a statement released to the media. “A great crew, brilliant supporting cast and beautiful locations, costume and design helped make the shoot a delight. We are absolutely thrilled to be sharing this very first look of Kate Winslet as Tilly Dunnage. It says everything about the character, a beautiful talented misfit, a dressmaker, returning home to right the wrongs of the past.”
The Dressmaker’s creative team included DOP Don McAlpine (Ender’s Game, X-Men: Wolverine), costume designer Marion Boyce (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries), costume designer to Kate Winslet, Margot Wilson (Lawless, The Road), production designer Roger Ford (Chronicles of Narnia, Babe) and makeup and hair artist Shane Thomas (Unbroken, The Railway Man).
Soundfirm Melbourne will manage post production with composer David Hirschfelder and editor Jill Bilcock (Moulin Rouge!) at the helm.
“We are delighted to be closer to bringing this Australian bittersweet 1950’s comedy (based on the novel by Rosalie Ham) to screens around Australia, October 1, 2015” said producer Sue Maslin.
“This shoot would not have been possible without the backing of country communities as far afield as Horsham, Little River and Jerilderie. From unique locations to country extras, period vehicles to afternoon tea cakes – we have had extraordinary support and most got involved because they loved the book.”
The Dressmaker was financed with the assistance of Screen Australia, the Ingenious Senior Film Fund (advised by Ingenious Media and Apollo Media), White Hot Productions, Motion Picture Lighting, Film Victoria and Soundfirm.
Universal Pictures International will handle distribution in Australia and New Zealand, with UK based sales agent Embankment Films, co-represented in the US with CAA, selling worldwide.