MovieChat Forums > The Dressmaker (2015) Discussion > Question about the book? SPOILER

Question about the book? SPOILER

posted 8 years ago by !!!deleted!!! (41638798)
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Questions for someone who has read the book.

It's 1951 in the film and she says she's been living in Paris. Since when? Surely more than 6 years, which would be from the end of the war.

I kept expecting some story about her time here, in the war, if she was in Paris at that time. She tells Teddy she first went to London, then Spain...then Paris.

Also, I couldn't see the close up that well on her business card she gave "Trudy" but it looked like Rue de Cambon, but beneath it it looked like there was something else like "Beauville" and I couldn't quite make out "Paris." Why show the card unless it was to show that there was something "off" about it?

So, it was in the back of my mind that it was all made up--that she hadn't ever gone any further than Melbourne. And it was all a crazy made up life.

Anyway, did the book elaborate at all on her life in Paris--was she there during the war?

She also mentioned quietly to her mother that she knew what it was like to lose a child. Then nothing more was said about it.

Did the book fill in that part? She had a child and lost it? (I kept thinking it was during the war, given the years involved she was supposedly living in Paris.)

Oh well, given the film's focus was entirely the revenge scenario that was being played out in Oz and not her former life, maybe the book was similarly focused on Oz without much background of her 25 years away.

Also the blurb on the book I have on hold at my library ebook collection says it takes place 20 years after she left town. Not 25, as the policeman said.

[–] carltonblue09 8 years ago

In some ways, the book is quite different to the film and in parts there is more explanation of the story. For starters, Tilly actually remembered exactly what had happened to Stuart, there was no real mystery to this in the novel. In relation to your question about her child, yes she did lose him, that was what caused Tilly to split with her partner and move back home. From memory, there wasn't a huge focus on her life in Paris. If anyone else can elaborate further please do.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (41638798) 8 years ago

Thank you!

I have the book on order from the library, but there seems to be quite a wait for it. But she was such an interesting character, it would be nice to read the book, too, to get all the "fill ins" that books can have, that are too copious to put on film.

I also saw "Brooklyn," but then read there were major differences from the book, so have that on order from the library, as well. Loooong wait.

Sigh. ha.

[–] carltonblue09 8 years ago

It certainly is still popular! Please do come back and let me know what you think once you've read it. I read it after seeing the film and personally I was disappointed, the film just felt so much more engrossing and also less risque than the book to my surprise!

[–] Dungatar 8 years ago

I heard there is much more sex in the book, they cut those scenes for the movie.

[–] carltonblue09 8 years ago

Yes indeed, quite a bit more. The scenes with Mr. Pettyman and his wife were similar in the book, but there were also a few references involving other characters that were surprising to read as they didn't occur in the film!

[–] Dungatar 8 years ago

I was shocked at the end when Mr. Pettyman was killed by his wife with that big knife! Horror movie ending.

[–] carltonblue09 8 years ago

It was a good twist indeed, yet again handled a bit differently in the novel but equally as shocking! The filmmakers were very clever in how they adapted the novel.