THE CASTLE

Australia, 1997, 90 minutes, Colour.
Michael Caton, Anne Tenney, Tiriel Mora, Charles Tingwell, Sophie Lee, Eric Bana, Robyn Nevin.
Directed by Rob Sitch.

When one looks at the list of Australian films that have been most successful at the box office, you find that they are comedies and that they present the `lovable Australian', the Aussie Battlers who stand their ground, especially against unreasonable authority figures. Think of Crocodile Dundee, Babe, Muriel's Wedding, Priscilla, Strictly Ballroom... In its more serious way (and in the concerts of David Helfgott and the delight in Geoffrey Rush's winning an Oscar), Shine works in the same way. Which means that The Castle has every chance of being a winner. Add that the film was written, produced and directed by the successful Frontline team (although only Tiriel Mora appears in it). And add that it is often very funny.

The Australian family's home is its castle - at least that is what the popular wisdom used to say. The Kerrigan's home shares a fence with Tullamarine airport and they soon receive a visit by a property appraiser who tells them that their house is to be compulsorily acquired. There have been plenty of US movies with this plot. Here is our own. But who are the Kerrigans and how do they deal with this threat to their castle? The Kerrigans are your suburban Aussie battlers - of the nicest kind. For them, life is usually a wonderful discovery, whether it be mother's rissoles or the food on the Qantas flight to Bangkok (`a credit to them'). They acquire a lot of bargains from The Trading Post.

The danger is that the film can be patronising to the Kerrigans and their real life counterparts. But the film-makers really like their characters, and so do we. So that when it comes time for them to go to the courts, we are definitely on their side. Fortunately, they also meet retired QC, played by Bud Tingwell, and we are glad that he can appeal to the Constitution and its principle `on just terms'.

Michael Caton, as Dad, has never been better and the rest of the likeable cast help us to share the Kerrigan's life. An interesting comparison is the Dredge family in David Swann's spoof, Crackers.

1.The popular appeal of the film? The Australian appeal? Larrikins? Battlers? Ordinary citizens and their ordinary life? Against the government? Winning?

2.Small budget, short shooting time? The basics of film-making?

3.The Melbourne setting, the suburb, the house, the streets? The contrast with the airport background and the inner city suburbs? Brunswick? The offices, the courts? Canberra and the High Court? The atmosphere of the locations? The musical score?

4.The title and the indication of the key issues of the film? The castle as the Australian home?

5.The voice-over and Dale telling his story? The deadpan style, the earnest delivery? The comments on the members of the family, their actions? The images in comparison with the voice-over? The technique of the description and the commentary on the action?

6.The familiar plot: the focus on the family, the threat to the home, the family standing by its rights, fighting the authorities, dirty tricks and violence. The use of the law, the appeal to the highest authority, winning?

7.The focus on the Australian Constitution? The phrase "in just terms" and the application to the Kerrigan family?

8.The picture of the family, the various members and their being introduced, the strong bonds of love and affection, the showing of affection? The importance of the home, the acquiring of the home, the various rooms, the annexes, the continued building, Darrell's special room? The outside, the patio, the granny flat and the kennels for the greyhounds? The closeness of the airport and the power lines and Darrell relishing this because of progress? Mealtime and the comments on the meals, the family talk, telling stories, the admiration of the two boys at home? Sal and the range of her craft and Darrell's admiration of it? The work, the tow trucks, the cars at home, the stories? The ethos of the family? Tracey and her husband, the wedding, the honeymoon, moving out? The highs and lows of family life? The nice Australian family? The holidays at Bonnie Doon? The use of the Trading Post? The overall atmosphere of optimism?

9.Michael Caton as Darrell? The lovable ocker larrikin? The benign patriarch of the Kerrigan family? In himself, pleasant, as seen and admired by his sons? His love for Sal - and Sal telling the meeting story and the love story at the table? His work? His encouragement of his sons? Extensions on the house? The running of the greyhounds - the stories of their races, the photos? Buying the land at Bonnie Doon and his loving it? The loving of the serenity as well as the boat? Naive but lovable? His comments on the advertisements in the Trading Post? The bonds between husband and wife? His love for Tracey, his speech at the wedding breakfast? His style? The threat of the government, the confrontation with the authorities, showing the assessor around the home? His going to Dennis Denuto, not understanding the legal implications? Going to court? His observation of the proceedings, thinking he had won? The neighbours and the meetings? Discussions? His encounter with the representative from the company? His disdain and treatment of him in court? The depression when he was losing? The meeting with Lawrence, the friendliness, happy about Tracey's degree and Lawrence's son? Meeting Lawrence again, the offer of help, the preparation for the court case? Going to Canberra? The High Court and his vindication? The happiness of the party afterwards, going fishing with Lawrie? His vindication of his stand and his winning his castle? The importance of his speeches - especially about justice, the home, the family, and his observations on the aboriginal experience? His being a man of principles and Sal admiring him for it?

8.The portrait of his sons: Dale, his age, leaving school, admiring his father, listening to the stories, digging the hole, working on the roof? The laconic visits to Wayne in jail? His enjoying the stories. The flight of the honeymooners and what films were shown? His admiration of Steve and his ideas? His voice-over and the observations on what was happening? Steve as the ideas man, reading the Trading Post, with the gun and his father not wanting the gun in the house? The bargains? Wayne, the background of the armed robbery (credible as coming from this family or not?), his cell, the photos, Dale's visits and their discussions, sentiment? Dennis Denuto having helped him - and failed? The prospect of parole, Lawrence helping with the parole? The happy reuniting?

9.Tracey and her place in the family, Dale's story about her going on The Price is Right but not winning all the prizes? Her love for her father, mother? Her diploma and her work in the hairdresser's? The engagement to Con, the wedding, the wedding breakfast, the implicit racism in Darrell's remarks but the reaction of the in laws? The honeymoon, coming home from the airport with the trolley, the stories, the meals and the films? Con and his kick-boxing and Thai television? The souvenirs, the genuine Rolex and its warranty? Going to Bonnie Doon, doing her mother's hair? Con and her helping him with the kick-boxing? The aftermath and the children?

10.Australian attitudes, the portrait of battlers, the racist jokes and references to wogs? The importance of the speech about Mabo and the aborigines and identification with the land? Australian attitudes towards the law - expecting the law to help? Breaking the law - the thug coming around, the violence, taking the gates from the Toorak mansion, the police visiting and advising him to put the gates round the back? Courts, Australian rights?

11.The portrait of the various officials: the valuer and his visit to the home, the discussion with Darrell? The woman in the office and Darrell wanting her to speak plainly about the government taking the house? The judge and his hearing? Robyn Nevin presiding in the court - and listening to Dennis's speech about the vibes? Bryan Dawe as the company representative, cynical and smirking, his presence in the courts? Bribes? The use of thugs when the bribes and the money or offers failed? The disdainful lawyer? The High Court judges?

12.Bud Tingwell as Lawrie: in retirement, the chance meeting with Darrell, the discussions about his son, the friendliness of the chat? Lawrie and his coming to the house and offering to help? Working with Dennis? The discussions, the support? Going to Canberra, his speech about the Constitution and just terms? Participating in the family celebration? Going to Bonnie Doon to fish?

13.Dennis and his background in conveyancing law, Tiriel Mora and his hang-dog look, the swearing at the photocopier, taking on the case, his poor speeches and the explanation of the vibes? Assisting Lawrie, the notes and offering him the glass of water? The final advertisement - and his practice as seen on TV!?

14.The glimpse of the neighbours: Farouk and his Lebanese background, his speeches about planes and bombings in Lebanon? John and his age, the support of Darrell and Sal? Yvonne and her participating in the court case? The speeches by Darrell?

15.The holidays and Bonnie Doon, the atmosphere, the song "Going to Bonnie Doon"? The speedboat on the lake? The activities during the holiday?

16.The blend of fantasy and reality? The quality of the humour and the jokes? The message?