European film makers seem to have the luxury of allowing the STORY to set its' own pace, rather than imposing a pace ON it. This movie tells the true story of a well-to-do Scottish family just before the depression. The family dynamics are distrupted when the eldest son brings home his young French bride, and his brother-in-law and 10-year-old nephew BOTH fall "in love" with her. An American film-maker would have made sure that something was happening all the time. But here, the characters are allowed to develop at their own pace, and the setting unfolds in all its' glory, as the story demands it. The acting is as good as it gets from stage veteran Rosemary Harris, and Colin Firth, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Malcolm McDowell and the young boy who plays the narrator, Fraser. Once again, I've forgotten(or didn't know) the name of the talented young actor. Give it a chance; I'd be surprised if it didn't win you over.