The Castle (movie)

The Castle is a 1997 Australian film that gained widespread acclaim in Australia, but which was not well understood by those unfamiliar with Australian humor and values. The Castle starred Michael Caton and Anne Tenney, and featured a cameo appearance from Charles Tingwell. Directed by Rob Sitch, the screenwriting team comprised Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Jane Kennedy, of Working Dog Productions.

Warning: Plot details follow.

The story follows the exploits of Daryl Kerrigan, a tow-truck driver living in Melbourne, and his family. Unfortunately, the local airport wants to expand and plans to evict Daryl's family and their neighbors by way of compulsory purchase. Daryl attempts to foil the expansion in order to keep his home, and he ends up in a legal battle that goes all the way up to the High Court of Australia.

The Castle is a courageous story about one man's obsession with his "castle" and his loathing of officialdom. The humor in The Castle plays on the self-image of Australians, most notably the concept of "the little Aussie battler". The movie title is named for the idea that, "Every person's home is their castle."