The Castle

A super low-budget film from the 90s out of Australia. It has probably stayed in rotation because of a bit part by a ridiculously young Eric Bana. It's the story of an idiosyncratic WT family living in the outskirts of an airport who are served notice that they are expected to leave so the airport can expand. The patriarch, Darryl, thinks that's not right and fights the bureaucracy and corporations who are trying to evict him. He enlists the help of the hapless barrister that attempted to defend his son who is currently in prison. Eventually his story strikes a cord with a retired attorney who takes the case to the Australian high court. The story is loosely an allegory for the forced migration of the Aborigines. This point is hammered home a bit too overtly in the final act, but adds a layer to the drama. It's a slow moving story, but it's charming and has some funny moments. Technically the film is a disaster. The lighting and editing are cheap and most of the performances are pretty weak. Most notably the youngest son is chosen as our "eyes" and narrates the film. The narration is overdone and incessant and takes away from some of the more subtle aspects of the story. But overall it's fun to watch.