Marilyn's Story... New England, USA,

A tragic accident robs Marilyn ( Andie MacDowell ) and her husband Greg (August Zirner) of their only son on the day of his 15th birthday. When her husband secures a semester-long teaching job in Hawaii, Marilyn opts to stay behind - she still blames her husband for the accident ant to her, their marriage is already over. Desperate to escape the unbearable pain of her loss, she calls the number of a real estate broker in Ireland to see if he knows anyone who would be prepared to swap houses for the summer. It's the middle of the night, and the man's wife, Ria (Olivia Williams), answers the phone. Faced with problems of her own and half asleep she offers her own house, which Marilyn immediately accepts. Marilyn arrives in Dublin and is soon faced with a host of charachters from Ria's life, including her best friend Rosemary ( Maria Doyle Kennedy ), the owner of a local restaurant (Stephen Rea) and even Ria's recently estranged husband, Danny (Iain Glen). Over the next two months, she learns that sometimes the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in someone else's life.

Ria's Story... Dublin, Ireland

Ria and Danny share their ;arge and comfortable Edwardian home on Tara Road with their precocious and beautiful children, Brian and Annie. But the picture of happiness is not all it seems - in a arer and quiet moment alone, Ria suggests to Danny that they have another child. Danny begins to look increasingly agitated and finally confesses that he IS having another child...with someone else (Heike Makatash). Caught completely unawares by this revelation, Ria is devastated. It's the middle of the night, and half asleep Ria answers the the phone beside her bed. An American woman, Marilyn is looking for Danny. She explains she has a home in New England which she would like to swap for the summer. Without much thought on the matter, and painfully aware of own need to escape, Ria suggests Tara Road. After arriving in America, Ria is soon faced with a host of characters from Marilyn's life including her girlfriends ( Ruby Wax , Jia Frances ), the owners of a local deli, and even her handsome brother-in-law Andy ( Jean-Marc Barr). Over the next two months, she learns that sometimes the best way to find yourself is to to lose yourself in someone else's life.

Directed by Gillies MacKinnon (Hideous Kinky, Regeneration), this touching drama comes from the best-selling novel by Maeve Binchy, the acclaimed author of Circle of Friends.