I Capture the Castle

Seventeen year-old Cassandra (Garai) wanted nothing more than for her sister Rose (Byrne) to be happy. For Rose wanted to marry a rich man so she could leave her life of poverty and sample the grander things that 1930s London had to offer. Instead they were both stuck in a dilapidated old castle, rented by their novelist father (Nighy) to try and inspire him to write again. When the castle new wealthy owner, Simon Cotton (Thomas) and his brother Neil (Blucas) come to see about the unpaid rent, Cassandra sees this as Rose's chance but doesn't account for falling in love with Simon herself.

Based on the novel by Dodie Smith, who also wrote 101 Dalmatians, this is a coming of age period drama that is abit too sweet for its own good.

Well acted and beautifully shot, the BBC produced film feels more like a Sunday night TV offering than an engaging feature. The universal coming of age themes are adhered to completely. First love, first kiss and unrequited desire are all dealt which in a very 1930s style. Marrying for money and position are commonplace, with the family and even the girl dreaming of a better life than love itself but you know that love will triumph in the end.

Newcomer Romola Garai is very good and carries the film very well. She is in almost every scene and narrates via her diary entries. Rose Byrne makes a very suitable older sister who treasures the acquisition of things more than her own personal happiness. Henry Thomas plays the American landlord well as this is his best role in years. Marc Blucas moves from the small screen (he starred as Reilly in Buffy the Vampire Slayer) to the big screen with ease and shows he is a talent to watch. Bill Nighy and Tara Fitzgerald are as good as ever providing excellent support for the younger cast.

The film does get slightly bogged down with 1930s decorum and a subplot involving Cassandra's Father's anger but at its heart, I Capture the Castle is a sweet tale that a lot better than many of the more modern set coming of age films of late.

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2003