After achieving a dream retirement with his wife of 50 years to a condo in the South of France, Joseph (James Fox) finds himself utterly miserable. Bored, lonely, and tired of his wife's incessant nagging and slow onset of Alzheimer's, he finds himself gazing hopelessly at the younger women that pass by and catching unflattering looks from the locals his own age. Brenda (Brenda Fricker) eventually begins to sense her husband's loss of enthusiasm for life is something beyond the simple prescription of anti-depressants given by their doctor, but absorbs in her daily routine and trifling tasks to keep herself occupied. Joseph and Brenda continue in their retirement almost living separate lives until one day they strike up a conversation with a young couple - Suzanne (Natalie Dormer) and Mark (Paul Nicholls) - on vacation from London seated next to them at their favorite restaurant. Joseph finds himself feeling slightly more lively after the encounter with Suzanne, and bumps into her again the next day on a sightseeing trip to one of the local architectural tourist attractions. Joseph's fascination with the young woman grows, and upon learning of Mark's interest in fine wine invites them to visit his friend who owns and runs a vineyard. There, Mark indulges heavily in his favorite hobby while Joseph and Suzanne spend time alone strolling through rows of grape trees. Suzanne enjoys Joseph's company almost as much he enjoys hers, despite the tremendous age difference. The two couples soon thereafter share one last night our together before Suzanne and Mark return to London. Joseph is able to keep his emotions well-contained, however the encounter with Suzanne has inflicted on him a deep remorse and pining for his younger years that will shatter what was once his idea of growing old.
