Based on the novella by William Trevor MY HOUSE IN UMBRIA is set in the sprawling Italian countryside After a tragic train accident four survivors find solace in the villa of an English writer Mrs Delahunty (Maggie Smith) The other survivors--an American girl (Emmy Clarke) a British general (Ronnie Barker) & a young German (Benno Furmann)--struggle to come to terms with the disaster as an inspector (Giancarlo Giannini) tries to figure out exactly what happened Eventually the young girl&s uncle (Chris Cooper) shows up bringing the film to a climax