GENRE: Drama 1987 DIRECTOR: Pat O'Connor [he also directed Colin in Circle of Friends] WRITER: Simon Gray, based on J L Carr's novel A Month in the Country,1980. An illustrated edition published by The Quince Tree press, England 1991. [ISBN 0-900847-92-1]. Simon Gray's screenplay published 1990 by Faber and Faber [ISBN 0-571-14229-X] PRODUCER: Kenith Trodd MUSIC: By Howard Blake. ASV label 905. PRINCIPAL CAST: Colin Firth [Tom Birkin], Kenneth Branagh [Charles Moon], Natasha Richardson [Alice Keach], Patrick Malahide [Rev. Keach], Jim Carter [Mr. Ellerbeck] et al.

ABOUT THE FILM: In the summer following World War I a generation of young men returned home to pick up their lives. Two shellshocked war survivors - Birkin and Moon - meet in a small Yorkshire village and form an unusual bond. During the idyllic summer of 1920 Birkin uncovers a medieval masterpiece in the village church, while Moon excavate a long forgotten Saxon chapel. As the weeks go by, they get to know the villagers and through bittersweet friendship begin to recover from their painful memories from the war and are ready to reclaim their futures.

From Time Out 1987:
Birkin falls for the beautiful wife (Richardson) of the uncharitable vicar (Malahide), and Moon (Branagh) falls for Birkin (Firth). Neither gets what he wants, but together they succeed in solving a minor mystery. O'Connor directs Simon Gray's script with great sensitivity. It's all taken at a gentle pace, but dullness is averted by a sly humour. All the performances are accomplished, and that of Firth is brilliant.