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
- Actors: John Thaw, Lindsay Duncan, Jean-Pierre Delage, Jo Doumerg, Marcel Champel
- Director: David Tucker
- Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
- Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
- Format: Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
- ISBN: 0767038371
- Language (Original Language): English
- Region Code: 1
- Release Date: 2001-09-25
- Running Time: 360 minutes
- Theatrical Release Date: 1993-03-21
