FILM:

THE
CASTLE

Roadshow, 1997.

Assessment Tasks:
Storyboard
Text Response

Workbook task:
Look at the cover.
What do you think it tells you
about the story?
What questions do you have
about the movie based on the
cover?
What do you think the title
means?
What doe the slippers on the
mans feet symbolise/suggest
about the movie?

About con.

The Castleis a 1997Australiancomedy-dramafilm directed by

Rob Sitch. It starredMichael Caton,Anne Tenney,Tiriel Mora,
Stephen Curry,Sophie Lee,Eric Bana(in his film debut) and
Charles 'Bud' Tingwell. The screenwriting team comprised Sitch,
Santo Cilauro,Tom GleisnerandJane Kennedyof
Working Dog Productions.
The Castlewas filmed in 11 days on a budget of
approximatelyA$750,000.[1]The film gained widespread
acclaim in Australia and New Zealand, but was not widely
distributed globally. It grossed A$10,326,428 at the box office
in Australia.[2]
The film's title is based upon the English saying, repeatedly
referred to in the film, "a man's home is his castle". Its humour
plays on the nationalself image, most notably the concept of
working-class Australians and their place in modern Australia.
[3]

About
The story is about the Kerrigan family, who have been living in
their hometheir "castle"for years. Their house is next to the
local airport. The airport wants the Kerrigans to move so that they
can build a new building on the Kerrigans' land. Darryl Kerrigan is
the father. He does not want to leave his house, so he fights the
airport in court. At first he loses in court because his lawyer is not
very good. Then he meets a very good lawyer (a Queen's Counsel).
The Queen's Counsel argues very well and the Kerrigans can keep
their house.

Background informati
on

Early life:Sitch was born in 1962, the son of Melbourne bus proprietor
Charles (Charlie) Sitch.Sitch attendedSt Kevin's Collegeand
Melbourne Grammarand graduated with aBachelor of Medicine and Surgery
from theUniversity of Melbourne, where he resided atTrinity College.He
worked at theRoyal Women's Hospitalin Melbourne, where he assisted in
the deliveries of newborns. He practised medicine for a short time. [1]
Career: Sitch is currently a member of theWorking Dogproduction company
which produced the television showsFrontline,A River Somewhere,
The Panel,Thank God You're HereandUtopiaand the feature films
The Castle,The DishandAny Questions for Ben?. Sitch co-wrote and
directed each of these films.
In 2006, to mark 50 years of television in Australia, theNine Network
special50 Years 50 Starslisted Sitch at the 39th greatest living television
star in Australia. Several of his programs, includingThe D-Generationand
Frontline, were included in the earlier special,50 Years 50 Shows, coming in
at 50 and 22 respectively.
Sitch is also a co-author of the satirical Jetlag travel guides toMolvana,
Phaic TnandSan Sombrr

Key idea: Australian Values

Workbook task: Brainstorm
examples of:
Australian values.

Values
1.
2.

principles or standards of
behaviour; one's judgement
of what is important in life.
the regard that something is
held to deserve; the
importance, worth, or
usefulness of something.

Australian Values Exa

mples

Mateship
A fair go
Equality
Respect and tolerance
Freedom of speech

Ideas in the film The

underdog

One perspective of the Australian identity is that we often

stand up for what is morally and ethically right and that we
are unable to watch acts of injustice. Australians pride
themselves on uprising in the face of adversity and working
together toward a common goal. Another view commonly
portrayed about the Australian culture is the idea of the
'underdog' - the little guy against the big, powerful rulemakers. Australians are rumoured to love the underdog (the
unfavoured party, battling against the odds), particularly
when the underdog rises and triumphs over the 'big guys'.

Workbook task.
The rise of the little guy
against the big guys
1. What Australian values does
this idea represent?
2. Write down 3 examples of this
type of uprising (true events or
made up).
Vocab Builder:
Define the following terms:
Uprising
Unjust
Authority

What is everyday Australian

humour?
When analysing the notion of 'Australian Identity' it
is important to consider those that are in fact
Australian. What are the characteristics of an
everyday, typical Australian? Do all Australians have
something in common or is it our differences that
make us who we are collectively?
Sitch presents one perspective of 'everyday
Australians' inThe Castle.This portrayal is
represented through:
A. Costume
B. Setting
C. Narration

AUSTRALIAN HUMOUR
The country itself is the
ultimate joke; the wave you
body-surf into shore after a day
at the beach could contain a
shark or a rip-tide and, when
you get back, your house could
have been burnt to the ground
in a bush fire. That's where the
whole 'no worries' thing comes
from.-Mark Little

Therefore
The Castle is a satire of
Australian culture
Therefore
A big part of Australian humour
is making fun or mocking
ourselves.
AGREE OR DISAGREE? Share
your arguments.

AUSTRALIAN HUMOUR
The country itself is the
ultimate joke; the wave you
body-surf into shore after a day
at the beach could contain a
shark or a rip-tide and, when
you get back, your house could
have been burnt to the ground
in a bush fire. That's where the
whole 'no worries' thing comes
from.-Mark Little

HOW HUMOUR IS CRE

ATED IN THE
CASTLE: IRONY
Irony: The use of words to
convey a meaning opposite to
the literal meaning.
Irony: When the outcome of
events are the complete
opposite to what was
expected.
"Dad still doesn't know why he got it so cheap"

HOW HUMOUR IS CRE

ATED IN THE
CASTLE: COLLOQUIAL
ISMS
Colloquialism: The use of
informal phrases or words,
often dependent on
contextual understanding
can be labelled as slang

A MANS HOUSE IS HIS

CASTLE
Explain the difference
between a house and a
home.

Some key details abo

ut the plot
and the characters

Darryl Kerrigan is an average man, living on the edge of an airport in suburban Victoria. He has three sons (one of
whom is in jail), a married daughter and a stay at home wife. He operates a small trucking business and enjoys the
simple pleasures; greyhound racing, speed boating and improving his home.
Darryl receives a letter that entails the compulsory purchase of his home by a corporation intent on extending the
nearby airport. He hires an inadequate lawyer to represent his neighbours and himself, and several attempts are
made to stop the compulsory acquisition. All efforts fail and Darryl , his family and his neighbours , must move out
of their homes. They face dismal prospects as their finances afford few
options.
A chance meeting with a Queens counsellor, Lawrence Hammill, results in the case appearing before the High
Court of Australia. The court finds in favour of Darryl and his neighbour.

An important part of your essay is the

analysis of the film techniques.
Nothing in a film is accidental. Directors and editors spend
hours and months deciding how to shoot a scene and what
footage to include in the final cut. Everything you see has
been selected to communicate certain ideas about the
experience of becoming a true hero.
Specific film techniques also evoke a certain emotional
reaction from the audience the techniques take you on
an emotional journey of liking disliking - sympathising
with laughing with crying with despairing with one
or more characters.
You have to start thinking as a viewer who is fully aware
of the ways in which all films are constructions. When
discussing films, your arguments should always be
supported with reference to filming technique.

The Kerrigans seem to be frozen in the 1950s and 1960s in terms of many of
their values and attitudes an era in which travel was beyond the reach of
most families and postwar immigration was still novel. Make a growing list of
the attitudes and values of the Kerrigans and Con. In particular, emphasise
those aspects that are intended to be typically Australian, as well as those
which may strike you as being associated with earlier decades, such as the
1950s early 1960s.

Basic and necessary elements of a film discussion.

Shots

Angles

Movement

Establishing shot

Birds eye view

Tracking

Long shot

High angle

Panning

Full shot

Level angle

Panorama

Medium shot

Low angle

Dolly in/Dolly out

Close up

Below angle

Zoom

Extreme close up

Obscure angel

Tilt

Cross-cut edits

Dutch angle

Handheld
Elevate

OTHER: Costume, genre, setting, music, special effects,

symbols, size and positioning.

Which
concept of the
hero is being
presented?

Integrate the
name and
effect of the
film
techniques
which
present each
different
concept of
the hero

A well
developed
answer!

How do film techniques demonstrate the transitions and

transformations of the everyday Aussie Hero in: the
ordinary world? The Trigger? The process? The
consequences of the heros success?
An establishing shot at the beginning of the film shows the family home
directly next to the airport. A low angle shot shows a plan dominating
the space above the family home.
Mid shots of the family home reveal a modest suburban family home.
The colloquial and simple language style in Dales voice-over
narration reveals the working-class socio-economic position of the
Kerrigan family. They are an everyday Australian family.
Diegetic sounds of kitchen utensils rattling and the plane flying directly
overhead emphasise that despite the tight microcosm of the family

 An establishing shot of Darryl at Bonnydoon, powerlines looming above him, reiterates the simple and
modest tastes of the Kerrigans they see beauty and
wonder in places that most people would choose to avoid.
The audience develops a close emotional connection with
the imperfect Aussie Kerrigan family. The depiction of the
eldest son, Wayne, in prison reveals the raw imperfection
of the this close-knit family. A close-up shot and angry
tone of voice shows that Wayne is enraged and angered
by the injustice forced upon on his father and family.
Tracking shots of Laurie and Daryl fishing suggest that
the final transformation of the Hero involves new and
enriched perceptions of the self and the broader society.

The recurring motif of The Trading Post, is a constant point of interest and represents that the
Kerrigans value resourceful and thrifty management of money.

Mid shots and close ups of the family enjoying their gifts and listening to stories of Thailand emphasis
that the familys values of cultural diversity and filial kindness among the family.

Cross-cut mid shots of Darryl and his wife arguing for their respective opinions and beliefs signify one
of the challenges that the couple have to face in fighting for their home and their lives. A sombre ballad
performed by Australian Paul Kelly is played during a montage of mid shots of the now despondent
family. A close-up shot of Darryls anxious facial expressions emphasises the transition to becoming an
everyday hero can be extremely emotional and worrying.

The victory party at the Kerrigan house features a montage of cross-cut editing of hand-held camera,
eye-level mid shots and over-the-shoulder perspectives. This different shot types and the camera
movement effectively positions the viewer to feel as if they are actually in the party too. The audience is
invited to celebrate the heros final transformation. Here, the audience becomes part of the broader
society which is enriched by the tenacious and courageous spirit of the everyday hero.

 Disappointed by the court decision, mid-shots and dialogue

inside the Kerrigan home reveal the changed reactions to
adverts from the trading post. The sombre and monotone
voice in the repeated catchphrase of tell em theyre
dreamin reveals the disheartened and defeated mood in the
Kerrigan family.

After the council clerk confirms the bad news, the internal
shots of the government office cut to an external, long trackshot of Darryl walking dejectedly alongside the council building.
The contrast of the lonely figure against the large, concrete
building symbolises that Daryrl has been made to feel
alienated and powerless by the government. The nondiegetic soundtrack of the mournful acoustic song emphasises
the heros feeling of defeat

 a full shot, and the expletive language of Denuto at the

malfunctioning photocopier illustrates his questionable
abilities and technological shortcomings. The faulty
photocopier metaphorically shows the professional
incompetence of Darryls chosen lawyer. Denuto symbolises
one of the obstacles which Darryl encounters in his transition
to everyday Aussie hero
Close-up cross-cut edits of numerous Newspaper
Headlines and the cut to the Today Tonight news
broadcast signifies the wide-spread impact that Darrys
heroic victory has had on the broader society. The little
Aussie battler and the story of his unique victory inspires
many more ordinary Australians to be more courageous and
tenacious in their everyday lives.

 After the final court-case win, a close-up shot

symbolises Dennis Denutos new-and-improved
photocopier. The cut to a smiling Denuto signifies a
new and more positive self-perception of his skill as
a lawyer.