I saw this pleasant adaptation of the Peter Mayle book many years ago on television and thought it quite good. The book, as is usual, was better (more nuanced, detailed, etc) but the adaptation I thought worked. This disc, however, does not work. This is a "shortened version" and is, quite simply, awful. I would have never purchased this had I realized that this was an abridged version. Many characters and story lines appear out of the air, and then some disappear as quickly. I sat down to watch this with my wife thinking it could be something that we could both like. We were both sorely disappointed and, in fact, she chould not begin to follow what was going on and who was who in this extremely choppy "short" edit. I would say, avoid at all cost and find a complete full-length version. John Thaw and Lindsay Duncan give enjoyable and often very quietly funny performances that deserve to be seen as intended. I do not believe I saw anywhere mentioned when I purchased this disc that this was a modified or edited version and I am clearly not very happy with my purchase. I hope to find a complete version of this to share with my wife. Better luck next time, I guess.