I CAPTURE THE CASTLE

Year: 2003
USA: Samuel Goldwyn Films
UK: Momentum Pictures
Cast: Romola Garai, Rose Byrne, Henry Thomas, Marc Blucas, Bill Nighy, Tara Fitzgerald, Sinead Cusack, Henry Cavill, Sarah Woodward, James Faulkner, David Bamber, Joe Sowerbutts
Director: Tim Fywell
Country: UK
USA: 111 mins
UK: 113 mins
USA Rated: R for brief nudity
UK Certificate: PG contains infrequent mild language and sex references
USA Release Date: 11 July 2003 (Limited Release - Los Angeles and New York)
UK Release Date: 9 May 2003

Synopsis

Seen through the eyes of 17-year-old Cassandra, who narrates the film through the writings in her journal, I CAPTURE THE CASTLE tells of an eccentric family struggling to survive in a dilapidated castle, with huge back rent debts and a father who has yet to repeat the success of a best-selling novel he wrote some twelve years before and who has not written another word since. Cassandra Mortmain (Romola Garai) and her beautiful sister Rose (Rose Byrne), their bohemian step-mother Topaz (Tara Fitzgerald), her young brother Thomas and orphaned, unpaid help Stephen (Henry Cavill) live an isolated life, completely oblivious to the outside world.

When their castle is inherited by two American brothers, Simon Cotton (Henry Thomas) and Neil (Marc Blucas), not only are they thrown into disarray at the prospect of finding means to pay their outstanding debts, but the innocent bubble in which the family has existed for so long is pierced and the sisters are awakened to feelings of love, longing and jealousy. The bittersweet love story that ensues is far more complicated than she ever imagines.

Blending the 1930's period detail and Suffolk setting with Cassandra's intense and intimate dairy gives an unusually vivid tone to this funny and very moving story. Ultimately, it is Cassandra's relationship with her father and her own self-discovery that provides the story's happy ending.

I CAPTURE THE CASTLE, an enchanting love story set in 1930s England, is based on the classic novel by British writer Dodie Smith published in 1948 and features an all star cast with British film newcomer Romola Garai, Australian Rose Byrne (STAR WARS: EPISODE II) and Americans Henry Thomas (GANGS OF NEW YORK, LEGENDS OF THE FALL, ET) and Marc Blucas (SUNSHINE STATE, WE WERE SOLDIERS, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER TV series).

It is directed by the award-winning Tim Fywell (MADAME BOVARY, THE WOMAN IN WHITE) who makes his feature debut with this film which re-unites Oscar-winning producer David Parfitt (Best Picture, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE) and the Oscar-nominated technical team of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE: cinematographer Richard Greatrex, who also recently completed A KNIGHT'S TALE, and hair and make-up designer Lisa Westcott.