The Miracle Club
By Kat Halstead,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Heartwarming comedy-drama has mature themes, some language.
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The Miracle Club
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What's the Story?
In THE MIRACLE CLUB, Chrissie (Laura Linney) returns from the United States to her Irish hometown in the late 1960s to attend her mother's funeral. While putting some things to rest, old issues resurface, and she finds herself joining Lily (Maggie Smith), Eileen (Kathy Bates), and Dolly (Agnes O'Casey) on a pilgrimage to Lourdes, each hoping for a miracle to heal the wounds of the past and present.
Is It Any Good?
A cast of Oscar winners and nominees, and a screenplay that isn't afraid to dig beneath the surface, lift this heartwarming comedy-drama into something more than a sweet tale of road trip friendship. The Miracle Club unites three generations of women in shared trauma and watches them unravel before coming together to heal. It's not surprising with the likes of Smith, Bates, and Linney onboard that the acting both tugs on the heartstrings and makes you laugh out loud, while relative newcomer O'Casey proves one to watch, with plenty of screen presence of her own. The fairy tale-like setting of Lourdes is in stark contrast to the small Irish town of Ballygar, the cinematography creating a place of open space and awe next to the oppressive rooms and claustrophobia of the women's lives back home. It's easy to see how things that were kept bottled up suddenly begin to escape as the women find emotional release and a healing that can only come with being set free.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the theme of miracles in The Miracle Club. What miracles were the characters hoping for? Did they experience a miracle in the end? How would you define miracles and what part do you think hope plays in changing lives?
As the women spent more time together, their communication and compassion grew. Why do you think these are important character strengths? What role did they play in the film?
The central trip in the film is organized through the Catholic church. How was religion portrayed in the movie? Can you think of other films that center around a Catholic or other religious community? How do they compare?
Talk about the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 14, 2023
- On DVD or streaming: November 7, 2023
- Cast: Laura Linney , Kathy Bates , Maggie Smith
- Director: Thaddeus O'Sullivan
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship
- Character Strengths: Communication , Compassion
- Run time: 91 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: thematic elements and some language
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: May 13, 2024
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