Set in 1967, this is a heartwarming film that follows the story of three generations of close friends, Lily Fox (Maggie Smith), Eileen Dunne (Kathy Bates) and Dolly Hennessey (Agnes O'Casey) 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 Ohearn (Laura Linney) 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, a skeptical traveler, joining in place of her mother who was to originally to make the trek. The glamour and sophistication of Chrissie, who has just returned from a nearly 40-year exile in the United States, are not her only distancing traits. Old wounds are reopened along the way, forcing the women to confront their pasts even as they travel in search of a miracle. Their shared traumas can only be healed by the curative power of love and friendship.
Others to round out the cast are Mark O' Halloran as Father Dermot Byrne, Mark McKenna as George Hennessey, Dolly's husband, Niall Buggy as Tommy Fox, Lily's husband, Stephen Rea as Frank Dunne, Eileen's husband, Hazel Doupe as Cathy, Lesley Conroy as Sister Alice, Shauna Higgins as Ruth and Janet Grene as Nun at talent show.
This was heartwarmingly directed by Thaddeus O' Sullivan ("On a Raving Stone Mounted" '78, "December Bride" '90, "Seasxape" (TV movie) '94, "Noting Personal" '95, "Witness to the Mob" (TV movie) '98, "Ordinary Decent Criminal" 2000, "The Heart of Me" '02, "Stella Days" '11, "Citizen Lane" '18) plus TV and shorts. The way this filmmaker was able to traverse his way to encourage his actors to have the ability to change from humorous to melancholy was phenomenal. Of course, when the cast is filled with such talent, it is easier, however, it still takes some fine directing to pull this off. Even though he is seasoned, this is still a difficult approach and O' Sullivan pulled it off in spades. It was equally well written by Jimmy Smallhorne, Timothy Prager and Joshua D. Maurer, based on a story by Smallhorne. Certainly both Prager and Smallhorne had the lion's share of the experience, however, I'm sure that Maurer's input was pivotal and helpful. And, other than a couple of small places of inconsistencies, this story was sequenced well, tight, concise and moved right along. Usually when there is more than two writers on any given film, the premise has the propensity to become bogged down with confusion and choppiness, but these writers were able to communicate with each other to the point of penning a thought provoking script that moves its audience emotionally, spiritually , psychologically while causing one to think about their own lives. Surely, the main reason I went to see this was for the star power--com'on, Smith, Bates and Linney? Wow! What a pleasure to observe such fine, seasoned acting. But, after watching this, I left with a whole lot more than I realized. Not only was the supporting cast a joy, especially Angus O' Casey as Dolly, but these characters certainly needed a miracle, but they found a miracle that they weren't even looking for.
If you like these actors or even inspirational type films, you'll love this film. It has it all: love, fear, humor, desperation, redemption and reconciliation all rolled up in this 90 minute gem, Just the fact that such a small, independent film can make just as powerful an impact as a film five times more costly to make speaks volumes to me.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 90mins.
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