Stars: Henry Thomas, Rose Byrne, Romola Garai, Bill Nighy, Marc Blucas, Sinead Cusack, Tara Fitzgerald, Henry Cavill

Director: Tim Fywell

Summary: The story of Cassandra Mortmain and her eccentric family who struggle to survive in their crumble castle. There is a light on the horizon in the shape of a wealthy American who agrees to marry Cassandra's sister, Rose.

British period piece romance film fans should rejoice over I CAPTURE THE CASTLE, a film that earns its emotional payoffs, and manages to avoid the many clever and cloying traps that befall many of its brethren. Based on the novel by Dodie Smith, the tale surrounds an artistic family living in 1930s England in a rundown castle, waiting for their high-strung father to finish his next novel. Narrated by the 17-year-old daughter, Cassandra Mortmain (Romola Garai) who lives in the shadow of her older sister Rose (Rose Byrne), the film sweeps the viewer along on a believable mood of wistful longing, especially when two handsome brothers (Henry Thomas and Marc Blucas) come to visit the manor next door. Romance is in the air, but everyone soon finds themselves hopelessly ensnared in triangles of affection, and for all its victim's sweetness and good intentions, love is determined to run its own, contrary course.
Thanks to an intelligent but not overly dry script there are plenty of rich characterization and dialogue to go around; and the cast is excellent, with Garai--beautiful and quietly brilliant in her first major role--a standout. Dario Marianelli's score achieves moments of genuine greatness and adds immeasurably to the film's emotional impact. Anyone looking for that rare romantic film that has both heart and brains, realism and magic, humor and tragedy, all in the least treacly, most refreshing senses of the words, this is the CASTLE to keep.

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Based on Dodie Smith's much-loved novel, I Capture the Castleturns out to be an equally lovely film, delightful and surprisingly wise. When her family moves into a glamorous castle in the countryside, Cassandra (Ramola Garai) imagines great things will happen. But the decaying castle loses its appeal as her novelist father (Bill Nighy) develops writer's block and her mother dies of cancer. From this sad beginning, I Capture the Castlebecomes an utterly engaging coming-of-age story as 17-year-old Cassandra and her older sister Rose (Rose Byrne) struggle to win the attentions of their new American landlord (Henry Thomas)--but when everything goes the way Cassandra wishes, her hopes fall apart. Garai's wonderful performance carries the audience through bittersweet discoveries about life and adulthood with hope and yearning. The entire cast--also featuring Tara Fitzgerald and Marc Blucas--is superb. --Bret Fetzer

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Year:	2003
Release Date:	November 3, 2003
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	M P 244 D V D
Keywords:	Comedy, General, Capture, Castle, Romantic, I
Genre:	Comedy