‘The Miracle Club’ trailer: Maggie Smith stars in charming Irish 1960s drama
The first trailer has been released for Dame Maggie Smith‘s heartwarming new movie.
Set in the ’60s in a boisterous community near Dublin, Ireland, The Miracle Club follows the story of three close friends with a dream to visit the French town of Lourdes.
There’s a great cast of familiar faces alongside Maggie Smith, with the Downton Abbey star joined by Kathy Bates (Titanic), Laura Linney (The Big C), Agnes O’Casey (Ridley Road). and Stephen Rea (The Shadow Line).
The official synopsis reads: “Set in 1967, The Miracle Club is a heartwarming film that follows the story of three generations of close friends, Lily (Maggie Smith), Eileen (Kathy Bates), and Dolly (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 (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.
“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.”
Watch the trailer here:
The movie is directed by Thaddeus O’Sullivan, whose previous credits include episodes of Call the Midwife, Shetland, and Vera.
O’Sullivan has described Maggie Smith as “so un-Downton” in the movie, explaining that “although [her] character does have a somewhat prickly and demanding nature … eventually we see a deeply vulnerable, humble and compassionate woman.”
When’s the release date?
The Miracle Club will be playing in select cinemas in the US from Friday 14 July.
We’re not yet sure if it’ll be released in the UK and internationally on the same day, but we’ll keep you updated.
“What really enthralled me about the story is how three strong characters confront one another and then, by embracing truth, they understand that the miracle they have all been looking for is right in front of them – in the strength of their friendships and unshakeable togetherness,” director Thaddeus O’Sullivan told The Guardian.
“What we have achieved together is to make an emotional movie that is truly joyous, uplifting and aspirational,” the Emmy-nominated Irish filmmaker said.
The complete Downton Abbey box set is available on DVD on Amazon.