Lourdes, France is an essential Catholic pilgrimage site and I actually visited the Massabielle Grotto cave with my late mother when I was 13. Many believe that in 1858, a young girl named Bernadette saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary where the chapel now stands. Ever since then, the grotto became famous for visitors from all over the world seeking to experience the miraculous healing powers of the spring water. 

This holy site is at the center of the plot of the story that takes place in Ballyfermot, a suburb of Dublin, Ireland in the 1960s. Lifelong friends Eileen (Kathy Bates) and Lily (Maggie Smith), as well as fellow town resident Dolly (Agnes O’Casey) have all been dreaming of visiting Lourdes and they have the chance to actually win the trip of a lifetime. On the eve of a beloved resident’s funeral, local priest Father Byrne (Mark O’Halloran) holds a talent show/raffle night for tickets to Lourdes. The trip would offer them a temporary escape from the humdrum of daily life, as well as the hope of a personal miracle for each of the Ballygar women.

As fate would have it, the daughter of the deceased, who happens to be Eileen and Lily’s close friend, suddenly shows up in town and stirs up old emotions. We quickly learn that Chrissie (Laura Linney) has been away for 40 years when she moved to Boston in her teens. The reason why she left isn’t clear right away, but Chrissie isn’t exactly welcomed with open arms and Eileen still holds a grudge against her and isn’t shy about showing it.

Irish filmmaker Thaddeus O’Sullivan crafts the movie as a comedy-drama, based on a script by Joshua D Maurer, Timothy Prager, and Jimmy Smallhorne. The main draw for me is definitely the cast, filled with Oscar winners and multiple nominees. It’s fun hearing Bates’ attempt at an Irish accent, and both she and Smith got to sing in this movie too. Linney is a phenomenal actress whom I haven’t seen on screen in a while, so this outstanding trio of women, plus the always-watchable Stephen Rea makes for a great ensemble.

Unfortunately, the script lacks a certain fortitude that would make this heartfelt story truly soar. Some of the humorous bits feel awkward and the dramatic moments come across as mawkish. There are obviously psychological trauma and deep cuts that severed the bond these women might have had long ago, but the movie takes its long sweet time to get to the bottom of it. I feel as if the writers use humor to skirt around their dark history and religious shame as if they didn’t trust the audience enough to handle the subject matter. As a result, the movie lacks real depth and I find it tough to connect with any of the characters given everything is so surface-level. 

The scenery in Ireland and Lourdes is beautifully shot, but the scenes at the holy site are more amusing than poignant. The sanctuary bath experience is supposed to be a time for prayer and contemplation, but oddly it’s played for laughs here. The moment between Chrissie and Dolly’s son who has trouble speaking seems intriguing at first, but it’s not explored too well for the audience to fully invest in their journey. When the truth is finally revealed in the end, the emotional impact is slight as the narrative is all too predictable and heavy-handed.

Given that the plot revolves around deeply personal issues pertaining to women, perhaps having at least one female writer would heighten the emotional resonance. For a spiritual feel-good movie, its heart is certainly in the right place, and its sincere message still makes this one worth watching. Under more capable hands though, The Miracle Club‘s redemptive story and excellent cast could’ve worked cinematic wonders.

Have you seen The Miracle Club? What did you think?

…