robert-temple-1 This is a superb romantic film strewn throughout with light touches of delightful and eccentric comedy. It was directed by Tim Fywell, one of Britain's finest directors, and is adapted from a novel by Dodie Smith. The lead role is played by Romola Garai, then aged 18, and she is utterly charming and, dare I say, thoroughly spell-binding. Despite her youth, she had already been acting in films for three years, so she had mastered the art of relating to the camera already. The film works like absolute magic. Bill Nighy as Garai's eccentric father is kept well under control so that he does not overact or over-tic, and he therefore carries off his key role superbly. Garai's even more eccentric mother is played by Tara Fitzgerald, and she too is just right for the apart. After all, she has never been 'as others are', as I learned when she was 14 and we won at hockey on the Harris's lightly snow-dusted tennis court one Christmas. That was before she ever acted, except in real life of course! She has lent her magic to many a fine film and TV series, and will doubtless continue to do so with her special touch. See her in THE ENGLISHMAN WHO WENT UP A HILL BUT CAME DOWN A MOUNTAIN (1995, see my review), ANGLO-SAXON ATTITUDES (1992, see my review), and THE CAMOMILE LAWN (1991, see my review) for three of her very best roles (of her 48 credits). This film of an impoverished Bohemian artistic family who live in a rented castle, wondering how they can pay the rent or even eat their next meal, exudes charm from every sprocket-hole, and treats love romantically, rather than as an occasion merely for grunting and rutting on screen, and that is so unusual these days. Anyone who wants to be delightfully entertained need look no further for a congenial DVD than this.

dunbare I have read the book and the movie is quite faithful. The story is about a girl Cassandra (ROmola Garai) who is living in a rundown English castle with her eccentric family. There is her materialistic, selfish and beautiful sister Rose (Rose Byrne), her chicken feathered hair little brother Thomas, her Bohemian stepmother Topaz and her once sensational father (Billy Nighy)**********SPOILERS***********************The story of the Mortmains is that father was a successful writer who wrote a novel Jacobs Wrestling that was particularly a splash in America ( there are a lot of comparisons to English and American customs). The father Mortmain takes his young family to live in a castle for creative purposes. In flashbacks we see Mortmains fall when the unfortunate Cake knife incident occurs causing his incarceration and his lack of writing. Their mother passes on and we see the Mortmains living in romantic poverty with Topaz acting as mother.The Mortmains life take a different turn when the arrival of landowners Neil and Simon Cotton arrive. They are brothers who now own the quaint little castle and are American. Rose and Cassandra immediately hatch a plan to capture Simon as Roses husband. As Topaz puts it "those boys are very taken with you Rose." This is Topaz observing the Cottons first encounter with Rose. As the girls become more and more successful hearts will be broken.This movie really is one big tragic love triangle. Simon falls in love with Rose and marriage is proposed. Neil is quite hostile towards Rose and sees her as a gold digger (she is). Cassandra meanwhile realizes she loves Simon and is disgusted by her sisters love of peach colored towels, bluebells, and fancy dresses. Rose is not in love with Simon. The story is even more complex in that Rose ultimately weds Neil the brother she does love! To make matters worse Simon is still in love with Rose and Cassandra is in love with Simon!Cassandra herself is pouring her broken heart out to her ever adoring servant boy Stephan. Stephan was the son of the Mortmains maid when they could afford one and stuck around after his mothers death. He has always adored and loved Cassandra. He is by far the most handsome of the men in the film and it is painful to watch his face crumble when Cassandra tells him she does not love him. This film is about love and broken hearts as all have their hearts broken Cassandra, Stephen, Simon and even Topaz and Father. The only ones who have any kind of happiness are Rose and Neil two of the least sympathetic characters in the story.1. Topaz was the character I liked least. She looked nothing at all like the one described in the book. Topaz was said to have skin so white it was like she belonged to a new race ( This is set in the 30's before tans when pale skin was popular). Her hair was very fair almost white. The woman who played Topaz while certainly eccentric looked a little old ( I believe Topaz was around 28 or 29) and did not have either of the physical traits Cassandra described so beautifully in the book.2. Stephen should have been played up a lot more. The actor who played him certainly had the physical attractiveness of Stephen and the sensitivity, but he was adored by many young girls. It should at least have been hinted at more how desirable the girls Cassandras age found him and how she did not seem to care. Stephen himself did not seem to care about it either.3. One of the saddest scenes is the Pagan rites when Cassandra realizes she will never share the same home as Rose again. It was a bit bittersweet and one of my favorite scenes.This was a charming little film that I really liked. While not totally accurate to the book it comes very close and even if your a loyal fan of the book the movie may be a pleasant surprise.

tjm225 ...set in the 1930s in the English countryside. The young protagonist, 17 year old Cassandra, sets down in her diary her thoughts and adventures growing up in a bohemian family living in a rented castle. Her father is a novelist who has suffered writer's block and whose declining fortunes have reduced the family to a bare pantry existence. Relief comes in the form of two American brothers who inherit the land on which the castle sits. Cassandra's slightly older sister Rose sets her sights on landing one of the brothers as a husband, and a lot of romantic complications follow. The film has many strengths, and a few weaknesses. The strengths include the beautiful photography and winsome performances by the actors who play Cassandra and other members of her family. The main weakness is some uneven pacing which makes the film stumble along in parts. However, the characters are well drawn and likable, and the film has a commonsensical ending which rings true.

Hunky Stud Stephen is indeed a beautiful guy. The casting director did a good job to find all those people. I have not read the novel, however, i think that this movie is well done.There is one thing that I did not think that it is possible. It is when the little boy starts to talking how the young girl who is about to get married does not talk about her future husband all the time at all. And it also did make sense, why did the girl wrote him a list of things that she is getting. And what little boy knows anything about adult life.the movie is well shot, the color was right and romantic. I especially when the girl walked in the forest with Stephen, it seems to be a place that has never been touched by human steps. it might be more beautiful if it was shot during a froggy day.The ending was not too surprising. it is a little formulated, not unexpected. Love will always be the forever topic in films.