The Miracle Club

Four ladies from Balllygar, Ireland join a travel group going to Lourdes hoping for personal miracles to happen. That's it in a nutshell, but on the other hand it says almost nothing about the substance of this warm and mostly gentle film. An exceptional cast (Maggie Smith, Laura Linney, Kathy Bates, Agnes O'Casey and many fine supporting players) leads the way. These four have a complicated mutual history the threads of which intertwine and finally resolve in unlooked-for mutual forgiveness which, if there is one, is the actual miracle. They heal each other, and that's the message.

Kathy Bates and Maggie Smith do their best with strong Irish accents -- though I was left wondering why native Irish actors weren't picked (maybe the producers just wanted the star power). You might expect that Maggie Smith would steal the show, as she can do with almost anything, but she turns out to have the restraint necessary to make this a true ensemble piece. And it's actually Chrissie (Laura Linney's part) who turns out to be the crucial role in the story. Enjoy.

Beautifully acted film about faith and the ties that bind ... despite the secrets and lies.

An Irish parish is holding a talent contest and the winner gets a trip to Lourdes. Three friends are hoping to win but one dies before the contest. Her estranged daughter (Laura Linney) returns to the village after 40 years for the funeral.

She's met with resentment from her old friend (Kathy Bates) and her first love's mother (Maggie Smith). The women don't win the trip but end up going anyway and each one faces the limits of faith and love when they expect miracles to happen at Lourdes.

The star actresses are all terrific and make this film worth watching. Co-stars include Stephen Rea, Niall Buggy, Agnes O'Casey, and Mark O'Halloran.

Given some of the subject matter, "nice" is possibly an odd word but the movie ultimately has an uplifting ending. Plot wise you kind of see it all coming but Maggie Smith, Laura Linney and Kathy Bates and one of the lead actresses from series Say Nothing make it an enjoyable watch.

It is a little odd that Linney doesn't try to even effect a hint of an Irish accent but they're all good actresses. The rest of the cast is slightly less known In scale, the story is pretty small/simple but it works and tells a story about miracles in that occur in ways and places people don't expect.

Forgiveness is a huge part of the story here as well. All the actresses play their parts well and it's comforting to watch them do it.

In the end it's a warm tale. It won't change your life in any significant way but it makes for a "comforting" watch From a technical perspective the visuals, cinematography and direction are ok but not amazing.

I wasn't sure what to expect from The Miracle Club, I just knew with a cast that included Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates and Laura Linley that I had to watch it. I was not disappointed in the slightest.

It is a lovely story about a friendship, past mistakes, love and forgiveness.

The casting is brilliant and as usual Smith, Bates and Linley give magnificent performances.

It tells the story of woman who returns to her home village after 40 years away, to attend the funeral of her mother whom she has not seen in all those years. She is met with hostility from her old friend and the mother of her long lost love.

It culminates with them taking a trip to Lourdes all in search of their own miracle.

I really feel honoured to have watched this film and really did not want it to end.

The Miracle Club is a well-made movie about three generations of women coming to terms with the past. As part of their pursuit of healing from physical or emotional wounds, they take advantage of winning tickets for a journey to Lourdes, the beautiful city at the base of the Pyrenees Mountains. Many people, especially Roman Catholics, believe that miraculous healings take place at Lourdes. And our three women have high expectations that they will experience their own miracles.

The movie approaches the story with restraint, and it intimately explores the relationships between the women. Faith and forgiveness are solid themes; consequently, the tone is often sombre and reflective. But moments of humour and warmth peek through, avoiding excessive melancholy.

The best thing about The Miracle Club is the actors who portray the three women - Laura Linney, Maggie Smith, and Kathy Bates. These three seasoned actors never miss a beat. You can feel the chemistry between them. Their characters are well-developed and relatable, and each one of them gives an outstanding performance.

The direction makes the most of the intimate setting, and the musical score is understated but effective, adding to the sombre tone of the story. The cinematography provides stunning backdrops to the drama going on with the three women. The use of colour is subtle and effective, and the story moves along at a steady pace. The dialogue is well-written, natural, and feels authentic.

After watching The Miracle Club, I felt reflective and introspective. The movie's exploration of faith and healing was well-handled and made some subtle points about what it might mean to be healed in ways that were not miraculous but were more focused on forgiveness. Too many people look for miracles rather than focusing on their close-to-home relationships that, if healthy, can bring emotional healing. And sometimes, we need to accept that not everything can be rectified, and we need to accept what we cannot change.

The Miracle Club had the potential to tip over into saccharine and sentimental drama. But fortunately, this is avoided and is, overall, a well-made, well-acted movie with a solid plot and relatable characters. While it doesn't reach the level of greatness, I'd recommend it to anyone who loves character-driven drama and solid storytelling.