Set in 1920 , the film follow the experiences of Tom Birkin ( Colin Firth ) , who have been employed under a bequest to carry out restoration work on a Medieval mural discovered in a church in the small rural community of Oxgodby , Yorkshire . The escape to the idyllic countryside is cathartic for Birkin , haunted by his experiences in World War I. Birkin soon fit into the slow @-@ paced life of the remote village , and over the course of the summer uncovering the painting begin to lose his trauma @-@ induced stammer and tics .