Adapted from the novel of the same name by j l carr, a month in the country, is set during a 1920s summer in rural yorkshire. Tom birkin colin firth, a destitute world war i veteran coming to terms with the after effects of the war, has been employed by a village church to carry out restoration work on a medieval mural. During his time in the slow paced village, birkin forms a close friendship with archaeologist james moon kenneth branagh, a fellow veteran who is also emotionally scarred following the conflict. The film follows birkin as he settles into village life, forming romantic relationships and bonding with families and locals. Neglected after its initial 1987 cinema release, the film features a score by howard blake the snowman, the avengers and is notable for its strong british cast which also includes natasha richardson, patrick malahide and jim carter. Cast and crew director pat o’connor cast colin firth bridget jones, the king’s speech kenneth branagh frankenstein, valkyrie, natasha richardson the white countess, the parent trap, jim carter shakespeare in love, downtown abbey awards and reviews based on the booker prize nominated and guardian fiction prize winning novel by j l carr ‘all the performances are accomplished, and that of firth is brilliant.’ – time out