The film follows 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain (Romola Garai - 'Nicholas Nickleby', 'Dirty Dancing 2'), and the fortunes of her eccentric family, struggling to survive in a decaying English castle. Her father (Bill Nighy - 'Underworld') is desperate to repeat the spectacular success of his first novel, but hasn't written a word for 12 years; her exquisite sister Rose (Rose Byrne - 'Star Wars: Episode II') can only rail against their fate, and their bohemian step-mother Topaz (Tara Fitzgerald - 'Troy', 'Brassed Off') is a nudist and no help at all. Salvation comes in the form of their American landlord Simon Cotton (Henry Thomas - 'Gangs of New York', 'Legends of the Fall') and his brother Neil (Marc Blucas - 'We Were Soldiers'). Although initially repelled by Simon, Rose is determined to make him fall in love with her and succeeds. But events spiral out of control, and before the summer ends there will be frustrated desire, first love, and broken hearts.