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 t's probably just as well that the English film "I
Capture the Castle" never states what time period its story is taking place
in. The film, about an eccentric family that themselves itself living in a
rundown castle in the English countryside, could have taken place anywhere and
in any era. The film captures that important (and all-too short) time in a
teen's life when love and lust and everything else are just one big jumbled
mess, and trying to decipher the truth from the lies and everything in-between
will eventually lead to heartbreak and, at the same time, euphoria.
Romola Garai stars in "I Capture the Castle" as
17-year old Cassandra, who is only plain when compared to her sister Rose (Rose
Byrne), their overly nutty step-mother Topaz (Tara Fitzgerald), and their
neurotic and novelist father (Bill Nighy), who hasn't written a single word in
12 years. Falling on hard times, the family is forced to move into a rundown
castle, where they struggle to put food on the table and not get thrown out by
the landlord. Possible salvation comes in the form of two American brothers,
Neil (Marc Blucas) and Simon (Henry Thomas), who have inherited the castle.
Topaz and Rose immediately latches onto Simon as Rose's potential suitor, but
where does that leave the fragile Cassandra and the headstrong Neil?
"Castle" does well by never showing its hand
earlier than it has to, thus keeping us in suspense as to who will end up with
whom, or if any of them will end up with anyone at all, until almost the very
end. Even though the movie is sometimes flighty, oftentimes amusing, and
sporadically serious, the film will feel personal and at home with most viewers.
The teen years are always the most confusing, with love and lust sometimes
indistinguishable, and feelings sweeping across like tsunamis -- powerful,
overwhelming, and wholly unpredictable. To those still living their teen years,
the world seems to move in slow motion; and to those of us already beyond it, it
all seems to have gone by so fast.
Such is the predicament of Cassandra, as she seeks to
navigate through her confused feelings for Simon, Neil, and the family's
"helper", Stephen (Henry Cavill). The movie is told through
Cassandra's eyes, who keeps a diary and writes obsessively in it.
"Castle" is a personal movie, dealing with the trials and tribulations
of not growing up poor or in a rundown castle, but growing up as a teen trying
to learn about the things that will aid her in her transformation into a young
adult. We've all been through it, and we know exactly how poor Cassandra feels.
As the star of "Castle", young Romola Garai does
an excellent job. The young actress handles all the different emotions her
character is forced to endure with skill and, most important of all, complete
believability. Although the movie tries to convince us that Cassandra is the
plain sister compared to Byrne's Rose, I can't say that it entirely works, for
the simple reason that Garai is not unattractive. Or it could just be her
somber, thoughtful eyes that draw us to her. Either way, she makes a fine
leading lady and should have a good career ahead of her.
Of the cast, only Tara Fitzgerald ("Dark
Blue World") rises above her lot as just another member of an oddball
family. Her penchant for going nude in the strangest locations doesn't hurt
matters. Mark Blucas ("They")
does well as Neil, the man of action who takes matters into his own hands when
he feels it's needed. Henry Thomas ("Suicide
Kings") is appropriate as the introverted and indecisive Simon.
Although he eventually becomes engaged to Rose, Simon still pursues Cassandra,
proving that even with age, love and lust is still sometimes indistinguishable,
and emotions are still sometimes a mystery.
"I Capture the Castle" is not a depressing film,
but it's not a complete comedy either. There are some amusing scenes, but
there's always an underlying mood of seriousness. Cassandra's author father, who
is suffering through a 12-year writer's block, has a history of losing his
temper -- one such occasion involving a cake knife and his wife, as well as
their terrified neighbor and the father ending up in prison for 4 months. And
despite her bohemian tendencies, Topaz is drifting away from the family and back
into the arms of another man.
In the end, "Castle" is a charming film that is
greatly boasted by a terrific performance from its young and talented female
lead. And if I had to guess, "Castle" looks like it's taking place
somewhere in 1930s England.
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