A Year in Provence

Amazon.com

A Year in Provence, the made-for-TV version of the bestselling book by Peter Mayle, captures a year in the lives of Brits Mayle (John Thaw) and his wife Annie (Lindsay Duncan) in southern France. The Mayles both revel in and endure what for most would be a fantasy experience: leaving dull jobs, acquiring an old farmhouse in Provence, and (for Peter) attempting to write a novel in the midst of bucolic countryside, gourmet food and drink, and interesting people. With an Agatha Christie-meets-To the Manor Born sensibility, the Mayles brave mistral winds, truffle season and the Mafia that surrounds it, exasperating neighbors, constant summer guests, an attempt at old-fashioned winemaking, and a Father Christmas drama--all while trying to renovate their kitchen.

This is not an in-depth look at expatriate living; rather, Mayle gives us a pastiche of the comedic situations he and his wife find themselves in. Some viewers may yearn for more shots of the scenic locations and a more serious treatment of Provençal culture, but most will find this a whimsical adventure and an entertaining slice of fantasy meets reality. --Stefanie Durbin

Customer Reviews:

Great gift item.......2007-06-14

My Sister loved Peter Mahle's books so I got her the DVD moive they made of it. She was very pleased!

Great DVD!.......2007-06-12

My wife and I watched both DVDs in the set this weekend. It was great! Very funny and very interesting. It should be required viewing for anyone considering moving overseas, regardless of the country. Your move will be what you make of it and how much work you're willing to do to try and "fit in". The Mayle's did their best to learn the language and culture, to make friends, to attend and have parties, etc. They also learned what true friendship is all about along the way, and that patience truly is a virture. The story about the "big house" and the rooster will floor you!

TRES CHARMANT!.......2007-04-07

This DVD is loosely based on Peter Mayle's books starting with "A Year in Provence". I have read some of his books and it was interesting to compare the characters and the stories. It seems that the characters in the DVD are somewhat exaggerated and many of the stories do not even derive from Peter Mayle's books. I also noticed that for some reason, Peter Mayle wife's name was changed. I loved seeing the Provencal scenery. I have visited this beautiful region and it's intoxicating. Although this DVD is in English, I felt that there were too many instances where certain characters would only speak in French (with no subtitles) leaving the viewer wondering what exactly they were saying. Although I know some French, I was lost once they started speaking fast. But regardless, it's very entertaining and a great value purchased on Amazon.

Do you want to move to France?.......2007-03-09

I bought this without ever having heard of it before. I really love some of the older British series, like All Creatures Great and Small, and The Irish R.M., so I thought I would try this one. It was worth it. If you have ever wondered what it would be like to move to another country, without being able to speak the language very well, this will give you a little insight. The show is slower paced, which doesn't appeal to everyone; but it has some good comedy at times, and made me wish I lived in a less hectic world like in this show. One of the best things I liked about it was how you could understand the basics of what a person was saying in French, without understanding a word of it. Sometimes some basic words would be said in English by the English actors, other times it was a matter of figuring it out. This is a great program to watch when you just want to sit and relax for a little while. It is divided into 30 minute segments, one for each month of the year.

A Delight in Provence.......2007-03-08

Except for the title and the two main characters, A Year in Provence is nothing like the book. But put that aside and take it for what it is, a delightful look at adopting a place and its people. It's a story that makes you laugh at the different and sometimes smelly people in this small town. And it will touch you when they open their hearts to the Brits. The hacking in combining the French & English languages is truely outrageous, and make sure you listen to the way the Parisian pronounce the word house. Salute & enjoy!

Average customer rating:

A Year in Provence
Starring: John Thaw , Lindsay Duncan , Jean-Pierre Delage , Jo Doumerg , and Marcel Champel
Director: David Tucker
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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