Powerhouse acting trio Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates, and Laura Linney head up this delicate, warm-hearted drama set in 1960s Ireland and France. The Miracle Club is now playing in Australian cinemas.
We find ourselves in working class Dublin, where lifelong neighbours Lily (Smith) and Eileen (Bates), along with their younger friend Dolly (Agnes O’Casey) are signing up for a local talent competition in which the prize is a free trip to Lourdes, France—a popular pilgrimage destination for devout Catholics.
All are in need of a miracle. Lily has breast cancer, a fact she’s kept from her doting husband (Stephen Rea) and gaggle of children. Eileen hasn’t gotten over the drowning death of her son Declan many years ago. Dolly’s son doesn’t—or can’t— speak. A trip to Lourdes and a dip in the healing waters may prove just the thing.
However, things get complicated when Chrissie (Linney), the adult daughter of a recently deceased friend, returns from living in the U.S. for many years. She brings with her memories of old trauma that Lily and Eileen have tried very hard to forget. Inevitably, Chrissie ends up accompanying the trio on their journey, but the question remains: can even the miraculous power of Lourdes heal the wounds of the past?
As comfortable as your favourite old jumper, The Miracle Club is going to work wonders with grey brigade who fill weekday matinee sessions. It boasts a fine cast of seasoned pros, some thoughtful ruminations of age, mortality, and forgiveness, and deft direction from Irish TV veteran Thaddeus O’Sullivan. It’s not exactly reinventing the wheel, but a strong sense of time and place, coupled with strong performances (the odd accent slip aside) make this a perfect time-passer. And even if you can spot the destination from a mile out, remember: it’s the journey that counts.
