I don’t know about you, but I’d follow Laura Linney, Maggie Smith, and Kathy Bates just about anywhere. Imagine the jokes between those three ladies! We sort of get to go on just such a journey in the new comedy, The Miracle Club, centered on three generations of Dublin ladies and the problems that arise when an exile returns and joins them on a pilgrimage to the sacred French town of Lourdes.
Here’s the synopsis from Sony Pictures Classics: Set in 1967, THE MIRACLE CLUB is a heartwarming film that follows the story of three generations of close friends, Lily, Eileen, and Dolly of Ballygar, a hard-knocks community in Dublin, who have one tantalizing dream: to win a pilgrimage to the sacred French town of Lourdes, that place of miracles that draws millions of visitors each year. When the chance to win presents itself, the women seize it. However, just before their trip, their old friend Chrissie arrives in Ballygar for her Mother’s funeral, dampening their good mood and well-laid plans. The women secure tickets and set out on the journey that they hope will change their lives, with Chrissie joining in place of her mother. The glamor and sophistication of Chrissie, who has just returned from a nearly 40-year exile in the United States, are not her only difficult traits. Old wounds are reopened along the way, forcing the women to confront their pasts even as they travel in search of a miracle. Deep wounds from the past can only be healed by the curative power of love and friendship.
Also in the cast are Stephen Rea, Agnes O’Casey, Mark O’Halloran, and Mark McKenna. The film is directed by the Irish filmmaker with the most Irish name, Thaddeus O’Sullivan.
The Miracle Club opens in theaters on July 14th, when it’ll be counterprogramming against the typical summer blockbusters.