Dok se nazire Drugi svjetski rat, bogata udovica (Carey Mulligan) unajmljuje amatera arheologa (Ralph Fiennes) da iskopa grobne humke na njezinom imanju. Kad dođu do povijesnog otkrića, odjeci britanske prošlosti odjekuju pred nesigurnom budućnošću.
Neposredno prije Božića, službenik robne kuće Steve Mason upoznaje Connie Ennis, koja je zapravo došla uspoređivati cijene za drugu trgovinu. Steve je pušta, ali dobije otkaz. Provedu poslijepodne zajedno, što nije dobro sjelo njenom stalnom udvaraču Carlu, ali oduševljava njezinog malog sina Timmyja, kojemu Steve postane drag.
Kad dječak slomljena srca izgubi dragocjeni drveni set za jaslice koji ga povezuje s njegovim mrtvim ocem, njegova zabrinuta majka nagovori usamljenog drvorezbara da napravi zamjenu i dopusti njezinom sinu da ga gleda kako radi na njemu.
In 1935, financially strapped widow Louisa Durrell, whose life has fallen apart, decides to move from England, with her four children (three sons, one daughter), to the island of Corfu, Greece. Once there, the family moves into a dilapidated old house that has no electricity and that is crumbling apart. But life on Corfu is cheap, it's an earthly paradise, and the Durrells proceed to forge their new existence, with all its challenges, adventures, and forming relationships.
London widow Cora Seaborne moves to Essex to investigate reports of a mythical serpent. She forms an unlikely bond with the village vicar, but when tragedy strikes, locals accuse her of attracting the creature.
Three adult siblings find their family thrown into disarray when their recently widowed mother, Vivien, declares she is in love with a new man. The tension his presence creates threatens to drag the whole family towards tragedy, and perhaps crime.
