The Dressmaker

Kate Winslet stars in Jocelyn Moorhouse’s distinctly Australian gothic, where Jill Bilcock’s finely balanced editing navigates black comedy, melodrama and revenge with wit and emotional precision.

After years abroad, accomplished dressmaker Tilly Dunnage (Kate Winslet) returns to the small, dusty town of Dungatar to care for her eccentric mother Molly (Judy Davis) and uncover the truth behind the childhood tragedy that forced her into exile. Armed with Parisian couture and an extraordinary eye for style, Tilly transforms the women of the town, exposing long-buried resentments and secrets as she quietly seeks justice for the wrongs of her past. 

Curator's note

Working closely with director Jocelyn Moorhouse (How to Make an American Quilt), Bilcock shapes the film around performance and rhythm, knowing precisely when to linger on moments of emotional revelation and when to punctuate scenes with sharp comic timing. The result is an editing style that guides the audience effortlessly between satire, romance, grief and revenge, demonstrating Bilcock's remarkable ability to navigate complex tonal shifts while remaining firmly anchored in character.