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My Home Is My Castle

Original title: The Castle
  • 1997
  • R
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
17K
YOUR RATING
My Home Is My Castle (1997)
Trailer
Play trailer0:26
1 Video
99+ Photos
ComedyDrama

A working-class family from Melbourne, Australia fights city hall after being told they must vacate their beloved family home to allow for infrastructural expansion.A working-class family from Melbourne, Australia fights city hall after being told they must vacate their beloved family home to allow for infrastructural expansion.A working-class family from Melbourne, Australia fights city hall after being told they must vacate their beloved family home to allow for infrastructural expansion.

  • Director
    • Rob Sitch
  • Writers
    • Santo Cilauro
    • Tom Gleisner
    • Jane Kennedy
  • Stars
    • Michael Caton
    • Anne Tenney
    • Stephen Curry
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    17K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Rob Sitch
    • Writers
      • Santo Cilauro
      • Tom Gleisner
      • Jane Kennedy
    • Stars
      • Michael Caton
      • Anne Tenney
      • Stephen Curry
    • 169User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 11 nominations

    Videos1

    The Castle
    Trailer 0:26
    Watch The Castle

    Photos182

    My Home Is My Castle (1997)
    My Home Is My Castle (1997)
    My Home Is My Castle (1997)
    My Home Is My Castle (1997)
    My Home Is My Castle (1997)
    My Home Is My Castle (1997)
    My Home Is My Castle (1997)
    My Home Is My Castle (1997)
    My Home Is My Castle (1997)
    My Home Is My Castle (1997)
    Tiriel Mora in My Home Is My Castle (1997)
    Michael Caton and Sophie Lee in My Home Is My Castle (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Caton
    Michael Caton
    • Darryl Kerrigan
    Anne Tenney
    Anne Tenney
    • Sal Kerrigan
    Stephen Curry
    Stephen Curry
    • Dale Kerrigan
    Anthony Simcoe
    Anthony Simcoe
    • Steve Kerrigan
    Sophie Lee
    • Tracey Kerrigan
    Wayne Hope
    Wayne Hope
    • Wayne Kerrigan
    Tiriel Mora
    Tiriel Mora
    • Dennis Denuto
    Eric Bana
    Eric Bana
    • Con Petropoulous
    Charles 'Bud' Tingwell
    Charles 'Bud' Tingwell
    • Lawrence Hammill
    Robyn Nevin
    Robyn Nevin
    • Federal Court Judge
    Costas Kilias
    Costas Kilias
    • Farouk
    Bryan Dawe
    • Ron Graham
    Monty Maizels
    • Jack
    Lynda Gibson
    • Evonne
    John Benton
    • Mr. Lyle
    Laurie Dobson
    • John Clifton
    John Lee
    John Lee
    • Chairman
    Stephanie Daniel
    • Council Officer
    • Director
      • Rob Sitch
    • Writers
      • Santo Cilauro
      • Tom Gleisner
      • Jane Kennedy
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The family was named Kerrigan so the filmmakers could borrow trucks from an actual tow-truck company, Kerrigan's Towing.
    • Goofs
      When the characters have their final appeal to the High Court of Australia, it is before 5 Justices. However in reality, when a constitutional dispute is brought before the High Court, all 7 Justices will sit (known as the Full Bench).
    • Quotes

      Darryl Kerrigan: This is going straight to the pool room.

    • Alternate versions
      After some mixed sneak previews, distributor Miramax ordered some changes to the film's dialogue for the USA release and a new music score. Two noticeable differences in the US version in respect to the Australian version:
      • They call the rissoles 'meatloaf'.
      • Dale's narration changes the line "Tracey was the only one in our house with a tertiary education" to "Tracey was the only one in our house with a college education".
    • Connections
      Edited into Terror Nullius (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Baby, Now That I've Found You
      (1967)

      Performed by Alison Krauss

      Written by Roger Nichols (uncredited) and Tony Macaulay (uncredited)

      Courtesy of Larriken Entertainment Pty Ltd

      Album: Now That I've Found You

    User reviews169

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Good fun
    Every once and while you find yourself watching a movie you have heard nothing about. A film with no A-Listed actors, no director with a treasure trove of awards and the sheer name of the films title at an office water cooler would result in blank stares and crickets scratching their hind legs in the background. Such was the case with the 1997 Australian gem, The Castle.

    Directed by Rob Sitch, who went on to help another underachieving treasure with The Dish, the story is about an Australian family's struggle to keep their home in lieu of being given a compulsory notice from the government that the airport is expanding where their house presently stands. Although I try not to be simplistic and sum up an entire plot in as little as one sentence, really, that is all you need you know to enjoy this independent comedy.

    The family is played by a host of unknowns. Michael Caton, Anne Tenney, Stephen Curry, Anthony Simcoe, Sophia Lee and Wayne Hope play Darryl, Sal, Dale, Steve, Tracy and Wayne Kerrigan. The family lives a simple life and enjoys their time together to the fullest. They complement each other at each dinner table, they watch television as a family unit and they spend their time discussing items listed for sale in the trades papers. Their sister just got married and other than the eldest son being in jail for a crime the family holds no grudges, things could not be better.

    So when the government sends notice that they must leave their house for the airport expansion, they agree not to go down without a fight and they illicit the help of other street families and a local barrister that has no business defending in Federal Court.

    You might think this all sounds very serious for a comedy plot line, but it's the exact opposite. The story begins with a long narration from the youngest son who reflects on how proud he is of his family. He talks about how each member bring a unique talent to the unit and how the father figure is the one that is full of positive reinforcement. The narration and visuals surrounding his description are Australian humor at its best. Whether we are laughing at the fathers adoration and praise of simple tasks like the scooping of ice cream from a tub or the wonderment of family members over an invention of a motorcycle helmet with a brake light on the back, we marvel at the sheer naivety of the family and what it deems to be important.

    The best way to covey this functional family unit is to describe it as a family of Woody Boyd's from Cheers or a litter of Joey characters from Friends. They all utter words we would deem obtuse, but it is all in good fun and it comes across as simple people simply observing their surroundings and commenting on how they interact with the world. As example, when Dale Kerrigan is speaking of the family's fame after taking the matters to court, he narrates, `Dad said it was funny how one day you're not famous, and the next day you are. Famous. And then you're not again.' There speech is entirely primitive, but funny in the same vein.

    To go into more detail about the film would give away too much and this film must really be viewed and enjoyed without expectation. You may not belly laugh at any time during the short 84 minute running time, but I doubt you won't spend time shaking your head in reaction to something a Kerrigan family member utters with a ‘I can't believe he just said that' notion.

    So I recommend The Castle. I recommend it with pause. It is an above average comedy that was made for less money than the cost of the Matrix end credits (They used the family name Kerrigan so they could use Kerrigan trucks during the shoot), but it can teach us a lot about the family unit. Here is a group of simpletons that love each other, respect each other and will do anything to preserve their ‘home'. What better lesson is there than that?
    helpful•65
    7
    • gregsrants
    • Apr 4, 2004

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    FAQ20

    • How long is The Castle?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 10, 1997 (Australia)
    • Country of origin
      • Australia
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Castle
    • Filming locations
      • Essendon Airport, Essendon, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia(location)
    • Production companies
      • Working Dog
      • Village Roadshow Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $877,621
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $29,452
      • May 9, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $884,370
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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