A Year in Provence, A - Complete Set (DVD, 2001)

What a dissappointment. A 4 part 'mini-series' purported to be a faithful adaptation of Peter Mayle's best seller, it captures none of the magic so prevalent throughout the novel. It sinks to the absurb when, supposedly after a year living in France, the Mayle character continues to speak english to his new countrymen while they respond in french-all this so the non-french speakers in the audience can discern what the french are saying; put it all in french and give us subtitles, PLEASE!
With so many wonderful short stories and subplots contained within 'Provence' the novel, one is left to speculate why the screenwriters needed push aside Mayle the author and concoct their own. While Mayle the novel basks in the glow of french country culture of food, wine and fresh air, the video treatment substitutes a look at Mayle's wife (a mere shadow in the book), a near affair with a parisian hag, and a drawn out sequence concerning a stolen postbox.

At least one has the french countryside to look at, beautifully shot, right? Well no, at least not with my copy. The cinematography is indeed grand. However, the colors were washed out and no amount of color saturation on my set was able to bring them in. Hopefully this was just an artifact of my copy.
The highlights are provided the supporting actors Marcel Champel (the scruffy neighbor Rivier, aka Masot) and Jean-Pierre Delage (the plumber Colombani aka Menicucci)- absolutely brilliant.

This British production of Peter Mayle's first book is delightful. Unlike many movies, this one is very true to the book, hardly missing a beat. It's easy to picture oneself moving into the French countryside, getting to know all the characters. There are 4 DVD's included here (Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall), so you're getting a lot for your money and the full treatment given of the story gives you much to savor. I liked Summer and Fall most of all, as the pace of the story was quite compelling and the dénouement of all teh subplots came together with style and humor. Like a special estate wine you may have found by accident, you'll want to come back to this one to spend time in that most special of places, Provence.

Peter Mayle's journal is delightfully presented on these DVDs, with John Thaw as the former British executive and Lindsay Duncan his accountant-coping-with-unaccountable-culture wife. Neither speaks the local language with much confidence and, sigh, everyone in the neighborhood is thoroughly French, with no reason to communicate in any other language. There are no subtitles; but skillful interweaving of English and French in Peter and Annie's attempts to communicate, coupled with the remarkably convincing facial expressions of the French actors, leave no doubt what is meant. The end result is a sort of preposterous credibility in the entire twelve-month slice of Luberon Valley life: ah, to be there and RIRE --um, laugh-- in person!

This is one to view again every few months, when there's good wine and cheese and an apple at hand. Share it with friends but with the caution of a county librarian (otherwise you may not get it back).

Both lead actors are top drawer professionals. It is so much fun to see John Thaw in a comedic role. You will be surprised and delighted with his performance. Delightful in every way, couldn't believe it when I saw the VHS in a public library after reading the book. Had to have it! One I'll play over and over again. Superlative acting, don't worry if you can't understand the French actors with their heavy Provence accents. That's part of the fun.
***** Abbysherlock

This was the last series by one of our favorite British Actors, who also was Inspector Morse for many years. We thoroughly enjoyed the DVDs. Excellent story, great characters and a real feel for Provence.

We purchased the movie,because we like John Thaw. Although, the story was an interesting one, and has some very funny scenes, a lot was lost in translation. Most French people speak English, so why have them speaking French if the movie was made for and by English speaking people? Scenery was lovely and John Thaw did his best. Would not recommend unless your French is a lot better than mine.

I loved it when I rented it & I had to have a copy. It is like a trip to Southern France, you are like a guest since you are viewing it all. It has humor, beauty, real characters, all the gorgeous seasons and the vineyards. It is a relaxing way to spend an evening or two.

Wonderful set to watch on DVD. Classic. DVD's arrived in good shape - shrink wrapped and new. This set is for true lovers of English television programming with teh added bonus of colorful French actors. The French cast is actually better than the English are.

Watched the movie before and wanted to own it. Thanks for a great purchase. I can't wait to share it with others.

The movie was wonderful. It provided my granddaughter of nine and I with several hours of laughs and a trip into the Provence countryside. I waited several years before buying the DVD after having read the book several times. It's hillarious ~~ Wonderfully entertaining.

I LIKED THE A & E TELECAST. I WANTED A FOND HAPPY MEMORY OF THE TV TELECAST.THE SELLER USES CARE IN SHIMENT. THANK YOU.

A complete delight from beginning to end! I have to admit that I have not read the book, so I cannot compare the original with this dramatization of it. No matter. I firmly believe that a movie or TV show can, and perhaps should, be judged on its own merits, and thus judged this is a real winner.

What is truly amazing about this production, then, is the acting of John Thaw in the role of Peter Mayle, the author of the book. To me, and probably to many (most?) others, Thaw is and always will be Inspector Morse, the leading character of the universally acclaimed Mystery! series. In that role he plays to perfection a sardonic, caustic, almost driven loner, one whose face seems to be carved out of granite (only rarely does his smile ever reach as high as his eyes). As Peter Mayle, however, he plays an open, friendly, very human being, one with a face most definitely made up of flesh and bone just like the rest of us, and this he also manages to do with perfection. The difference he makes between Morse and Mayle is the signature of a truly fine actor. (Gary Cooper was a great actor, too, but it was because no one could play the role of Gary Cooper better than he, and it was a role we all loved. Can you imagine him, however, in the role of Morse as well as that of Will Kane?)

Lindsay Duncan, hitherto unknown to me, is also perfect as Mayle's wife, and the rest of the characters, most of them French, do great jobs in their roles. Some may cavil at the fact that throughout the French actors speak only French, and that no English sub-titles are provided the viewer. Such quibbling, however, seems to me to miss the whole point, which is to get the viewer to feel and empathize with what it's like to be plonked down in a place where you can only understand a smattering of what is said to you and can only reply in a 'pigeon' version of the language being spoken. I know the feeling very well, and can still remember when, on a bicycle tour of Europe, I went into a hotel and (thought that I) asked for a room for the night, and then was very politely escorted to the WC.

I'll freely admit, however, that this show may not be to everyone's liking, but if you enjoy the old B & W comedies of Alec Guiness, then I really believe you will enjoy this one, too.

jayjayaye

I bought a Year in Provance for a present for my husband. This was one of the best deals that I have found. The CD's where shipped out promptly, it was the mail service that took the longest! I would definately shop from this dealer again!