The Miracle Club

IN A NUTSHELL: This was a movie project 17 years in the making! Finally, all of the pieces came together for production and distribution. Lourdes, France is known as a city of pilgrimage for miracles. In this story, some women of Ballygar, Ireland want to go there to taste freedom and miracles in their life. The lovely film was directed by Thaddeus O’Sullivan. Writing credits go to Joshua D. Maurer, Timothy Prager, and Jimmy Smallhorne. THINGS I LIKED: The cast is wonderful and includes Academy Award winners Kathy Bates, Maggie Smith, Stephen Rea, and Laura Linney. Others to round out the cast are Agnes O’Casey, Mark O’Halloran, Mark McKenna. We get to hear Kathy Bates sing! I was excited to see this movie because it features so many incredible actresses and because we get to go to Ireland. I’m going there for the first time this summer! We also get to go to beautiful Lourdes, France! There’s some beautiful cinematography by John Conroy. The mystery keeps us watching to figure out what caused the schism between certain characters. The film does an excellent job illustrating how everyone is in search of some kind of healing, whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual. The movie meanders gently along with lovely music that perfectly supports each scene. There is a sweet sense of sisterhood and friendship among the women in the story, each supporting one another. THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE: Some of the accents are pretty thick, so it’s hard to understand what many of the characters say sometimes. Almost all of the men in the movie are represented as awful misogynists or incapable dullards. I would love to have seen more of both Ireland and France in the background of scenes. Both are such gorgeous countries. TIPS FOR PARENTS: Kids will be bored. We see people in towels get into a bathtub. There is talk of abortion and miscarriage. People talk of someone who drowned in the sea. No profanity. We see a scene at a funeral.

When circumstances in our lives grow burdensome, many of us hope for a miracle. In some cases, that aspiration is looked upon and anticipated as a literal possibility, one that can be banked on if certain steps are taken. For many of the world’s Roman Catholics, that means making a pilgrimage to the holy shrine at Lourdes, France, site of a believed visitation by the Virgin Mary in 1858. And, in 1967, for the anguished residents of a small Irish town, that’s just what they undertake in hopes of seeing their problems miraculously vanish. That premise provides the basis for director Thaddeus O’Sullivan’s latest feature offering, which tells the story of three generations of women who make the journey to see their trials and tribulations lifted, some of which are physical, others of which are emotional and nearly all of which are familial or relationship-oriented. This delightful and touching comedy-drama is part road trip tale, part “buddy” film (even if that term doesn’t always fit), and part saga of reconciliation, redemption and rebirth. It poignantly explores the process of making our own miracles rather than relying on outside influences, as well as learning and understanding the true meaning of faith and forgiveness. Admittedly, the film takes its time getting started (and perhaps a tad too long at that), and some of its story threads come across as somewhat schmaltzy, predictable and overly “tidy.” However, it has a definite edge to it, too, especially in its incisively biting humor, pointedly and expertly delivered through the superb performances of its principal cast members, most notably Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates, Laura Linney and Stephen Rea. Some may look upon “The Miracle Club” as something of a lightweight offering, but its heart and intents are decidedly in the right place, making for a generally enjoyable watch, particularly as a piece of family fare. Cynics may find much to criticize here, but I believe that’s patently unfair, considering the sincerity of its messages and earnestness of their delivery. So, in light of that, give this one a fair shake – you just might find a few miracles of your own come from it.