Romance,Drama
United Kingdom
The story of I Capture the Castle is told through the eyes of Cassandra Mortmain, a 17-year-old aspiring writer, who lives in a decaying castle in rural England with her quirky family. Her father is a once-famous writer who has been suffering from writer's block for years, her stepmother Topaz is an eccentric artist, and her older sister Rose dreams of marrying a wealthy man to lift the family out of poverty.
Despite their circumstances, the Mortmain family tries to maintain a sense of hope and optimism. When two wealthy American brothers, Simon and Neil Cotton, move into the neighboring estate, the sisters become infatuated with them. Rose sees the Cottons as her ticket to a better life, while Cassandra finds herself falling for Simon, despite his engagement to another woman.
As the story unfolds, the Mortmains' financial situation deteriorates even further, and tensions rise within the family as they try to come up with a way to save themselves from ruin. At the same time, Cassandra struggles to come to terms with her feelings for Simon and her role in the family's future.
I Capture the Castle is a bittersweet coming-of-age story that explores themes of love, family, and the pursuit of happiness. The film adaptation, released in 2003, stars Romola Garai as Cassandra, with Bill Nighy, Rose Byrne, and Tara Fitzgerald in supporting roles. It is faithful to the novel in its portrayal of the Mortmain family's idiosyncrasies and charms, and captures the essence of 1930s England with its beautiful scenery and costuming.
