The Castle is a 1997 Australian film directed by Rob Sitch. The film follows the antics of the unemployed Kerrigan family who live in a decrepit and run-down house near an airport in Melbourne, Australia. The Kerrigans are constantly harassed by the local council and their attempts to improve their home or fight back against the council are consistently thwarted.
The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $10 million at the box office. It has been praised for its humor and sharp social commentary. The Castle was nominated for seven AACTA Awards, including Best Film, Best Direction, and Best Screenplay.
The Castle, written and directed by Rob Sitch, is a comedic look at the lives of a typical Australian family, the Kerrigans. The film explores common domestic concerns in an amusing way. The audience is introduced to the traditional Australian family through Dale, the youngest Kerrigan son. A lower-middle-class Melbourne suburb adjacent to an airport serves as the backdrop for this drama. Darryl Kerrigan (Michael Caton), head of the Kerrigan household, is simple but extremely proud.
The film The Castle focuses on the Kerrigan family and their battle to keep their home, which is being threatened by the construction of a new airport runway. The family are told they must vacate their home as the government has compulsorily acquired the land on which their house sits. The family takes the government to court in an effort to keep their home, with Darryl Kerrigan representing himself. The case works its way up to the High Court, with comical results.
The film The Castle is a feel good film that will leave you laughing and cheering for the underdog. The film is a great example of Australian humour and the Kerrigan family will quickly become your favourite Aussie family. The Castle was released in 1997 and is still one of the most popular Australian films to date. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Darryl is a typical Australian guy who is adored by his family yet ignored by the public. Darryl, on the other hand, lives and rules in his own house, which he refers to as his castle. “A man’s home is his castle,” he says. The Kerrigan family are uninspiring classic Aussies: Sal Kerrigan (Anne Tenney) is the traditional Australian housewife, who is totally devoted to her family and especially her husband. Her cooking lacks refinement of any kind, but it’s praised beyond all professional chefs’ wildest expectations. The Kerrigan children possess all of their parents’ flaws and inadequacies.
The eldest child Wayne (Wayne Hope) is a total failure. The middle child Tracey (AlisonWhyte) is average in every way, and the youngest son Steve (Steve Eccles) is an aspiring jockey. The film follows the familys interactions with various authority figures who threaten their idyllic existence. The most significant of these intrusions are from The Department of Main Roads, who want to demolish The Castle to make way for a new freeway. The second major threat comes from a property developer, who wants to buy the home from under them.
The film is set in the working-class Melbourne suburb of Coolaroo. The Kerrigan family live in a Housing Commission home which is being threatened with demolition by the government to make way for an airport expansion. The father, Darryl (Caton), is a working man who is passionate about his home and his family. The mother, Sal (Tenney), is a devoted housewife who loves her husband and children. The eldest child, Wayne (Hope), is a failure. The middle child, Tracey (Whyte), is average in every way. The youngest son, Steve (Eccles), is an aspiring jockey.
The film follows the family’s interactions with various authority figures who threaten their idyllic existence. The most significant of these intrusions are from The Department of Main Roads, who want to demolish The Castle to make way for a new freeway. The second major threat comes from a property developer, who wants to buy the home from under them.
The film was written by Sitch, David Michôd and Andrew Knight. It was produced by Working Dog Productions and released by Universal Pictures. The film was shot on location in Coolaroo and Essendon Airport in Melbourne.
The eldest, Wayne, is incarcerated but still receives his family’s love. Steve is a talented mechanic who makes his father very proud. Tracey (Sophie Lee) is the only girl in the family and, as a result, the favorite. She is recognized for her academic achievement because she is the only one of her family to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Tracey works as a hairdresser with a license. Her father was overjoyed by this news. She was also among the first to get married , marrying Con Petropoulous (Full Frontals Eric Bana), an accountant from Greece who specializes in kickboxing
The family live in the Melbourne suburb of Coolaroo. The house is a run-down weatherboard, but to them it’s home and they wouldn’t have it any other way. The father, Darryl Kerrigan (Michael Caton), is the head of the family. He is a simple man who just wants the best for his family. The mother, Sal (Anne Tenney), is the heart of the family. She keeps everyone together and makes sure that they are all happy.
The film follows the Kerrigan family in the lead up to, and including, Wayne’s court case. The court case is over whether or not their home will be demolished to make way for an airport expansion. The whole film is narrated by Darryl Kerrigan, which gives us an insight into his simple way of thinking. The film is also very funny, due to the family’s innocence and their general lack of intelligence.
The film ends with a victory for the Kerrigans, as the court case is won and their home is saved. The film leaves us with a feel-good feeling, as we have seen how important family is to the Kerrigans, and how they would do anything for each other.
I recommend The Castle to anyone who wants a good laugh and a feel-good film. It is an Australian classic and I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.