I Capture the Castle (2003)

This is a superb romantic film strewn throughout with light touches of delightful and eccentric comedy. It was directed by Tim Fywell, one of Britain's finest directors, and is adapted from a novel by Dodie Smith. The lead role is played by Romola Garai, then aged 18, and she is utterly charming and, dare I say, thoroughly spell-binding. Despite her youth, she had already been acting in films for three years, so she had mastered the art of relating to the camera already. The film works like absolute magic. Bill Nighy as Garai's eccentric father is kept well under control so that he does not overact or over-tic, and he therefore carries off his key role superbly. Garai's even more eccentric mother is played by Tara Fitzgerald, and she too is just right for the apart. After all, she has never been 'as others are', as I learned when she was 14 and we won at hockey on the Harris's lightly snow-dusted tennis court one Christmas. That was before she ever acted, except in real life of course! She has lent her magic to many a fine film and TV series, and will doubtless continue to do so with her special touch. See her in THE ENGLISHMAN WHO WENT UP A HILL BUT CAME DOWN A MOUNTAIN (1995, see my review), ANGLO-SAXON ATTITUDES (1992, see my review), and THE CAMOMILE LAWN (1991, see my review) for three of her very best roles (of her 48 credits). This film of an impoverished Bohemian artistic family who live in a rented castle, wondering how they can pay the rent or even eat their next meal, exudes charm from every sprocket-hole, and treats love romantically, rather than as an occasion merely for grunting and rutting on screen, and that is so unusual these days. Anyone who wants to be delightfully entertained need look no further for a congenial DVD than this.

An eccentric and well-born English family in the 1930's tries to cope with genteel poverty, while the two stunning teenage daughters of the family experiment with passion and romance. Main thing you need to know: Romola Garai is not only lovely, she's an acting genius. Her fresh, innocent blond beauty rivets your attention, and she hits the right note in every scene -- curious, defiant, tender, lonely, confused, caring. She not only hits the right note, she often hits two or three right notes at once. Watch her animated facial expressions and you'll see she always gives you more than one emotionThe problem with this movie is that it tries to be too many things. One minute it's a sexy teen romance, like DIRTY DANCING (which also starred Romola Garai.) Then it's cerebral satire of long-forgotten intellectual types, like COLD COMFORT FARM. Then it's some kind of Masterpiece Theater type thing about newly rich Americans in England, and what fools they are for European elegance. Derivative themes and a thin plot with too many familiar stereotypes. There are too many supporting characters, and aside from the luminous Romola Garai none of them are especially sympathetic. Marc Blucas was pretty good in JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB. Here he shows more muscle-power than talent. Henry Thomas is getting too old to be playing boyish and innocent. Bill Nighy as the eccentric dad has some authentic moments, but was a better patriarch in UNDERWORLD. ("Lycans, daughter. The lycans took my talent. Lucan and his kind . . spoiled my taste for f-f-f-fiction!")There is one extremely interesting sub-plot about a local village lad the heroine thinks of as a friend, who worships her and is rejected. In an unexpected twist, a wealthy older woman seduces him and takes him to London, where he becomes a successful actor/model. The film handles this in a sensitive way, neither pitying the young man nor condemning him for giving in to his wealthy female protector. Unfortunately, this most interesting sub plot is only given a few minutes of screen time. Summing up, then, this movie is something you must see only if you are a fan of the phenomenally talented Romola Garai. Other than that, it's really a hit or miss movie, and some parts are very thin.

For those who enjoyed the book first, this film seems strangely wrong. The filmmakers are too greatly influenced by a combination of the Merchant-Ivory films, all those wonderful Masterpiece Theatre/BBC historical British dramas and a sort-of light, airy type of film-making that's completely out-of-place for this story.This family is living on very hard times and I don't think that's shown properly. In the book, Topaz is a much stranger character (in the book, she reminds me of a blonde version of perhaps, Morticia Addams(!) and Mortmain should not just be moody. In the book, he's much more odd...and interesting.I guess they got Rose and Cassandra right, but there's none of the poverty and hopelessness that's so clearly drawn in the book.Perhaps this one of those books that simply couldn't be properly adapted nearly 40 years after it was written.

This film taught me a lot about human nature, and about having such ardent hope amid such dire conditions. The protagonist/narrator Cassandra played excellently by Ramola Garai turns in a tour-de-force performance as a sometime gawky & awkward teen who despite her naiveté is so wise behind her years when dealing with people and affairs of the heart.The movie made me laugh, cry and gave me hope that no matter how bad things can get, life will somehow work itself out if you have faith, a good head on your shoulders and believe in those close to you.I'm glad I recorded this on TiVo. This is one movie I don't think I'll ever delete. I highly recommend this movie for its simple lessons and its picturesque scenery.