They might need a new travel agent on this one.

You might think that “Midwinter Break” would have a “Before Sunrise” quality, if it features a man and woman in a European country. But that’s not the case, because there are no long conversations or real character development.

You might also think that it would have some “In the Bedroom” qualities if it regards an old couple undergoing a tragedy. It kind of does, but it doesn’t really have that kind of emotional weight. In fact, despite fine work from the leads Lesley Manville and Ciaran Hinds,” it starts to meander and go through the motions.

We meet an elderly Irish couple Stella (Manville) and Gerry (Hinds), who moved from Belfast, Ireland to Scotland, following a near tragedy. At this point early in the film, they both start off appearing like they’re losing magic in their marriage. She has found religion, while he has his drinks. But then, one Christmas Day, Stella gives her husband an envelope regarding a trip to Amsterdam. “I feel it’s time we had an adventure,” she says. And they’re both immediately happy about the idea.

When they arrive in the Netherlands, they love the room, the location, and the museums (like the Anne Frank house) and churches they visit. So, things could be coming up roses. But you know there’s going to be some pathos coming up.

Regarding Stella finding religion, she believes it was a miracle that she survived a gunshot wound when she was pregnant back in Belfast. But Gerry doesn’t believe in miracles. And in addition, she wants to live a more divert life, as a way to fill a void in her life. She wants to live the kind of religious life with other women seeking the same faith. But her husband is disillusioned.

I think we can agree that this couple isn’t happy anywhere in the world. The near tragedy that struck their lives has to set things in motion, and faith is required to try to tame things. Stella has that, but Gerry is cynical. And that’s how Manville and Hinds both deliver the emotions and somber tone of their characters.

But “Midwinter Break” is too bleak and skittish to really delve into their lives. We do hear how Stella suffered through her turmoil later in the film and how the husband handled their situation in the past, but we’re not really feeling anything. We’re not really acknowledging the essence of it all. We just have gorgeous photography by Laurie Rose (“Freaky,” “Rosaline”), who presents Amsterdam with more ambiance than any what was displayed in “Jimpa.” Maybe it should play like a character regarding the main character, but it doesn’t feel very supporting.

I saw this movie in a small theater with only two old ladies in front of me. One was trying to explain to the other what was going on and what the pathos was, so at this very moment, I appreciate them for trying to clarify things. I kind of knew what has happened, but that woman was helpful to the other. I still don’t recommend talking during a movie, but you already knew that.

“Midwinter Break” was based on the novel by Bernard MacLaverty, who also wrote the screenplay with Nick Payne (“We Live in Time,” “The Sense of an Ending”) under the direction of Polly Findlay (an Olivier Award winning director). They all try to resonate with the story and characters, but it all feels more like a summary than a real character development. A vacation between these people should be a life changing experience for them, and even if it requires pathos, it should be examined. But it seems to me that a passport has expired on that.