Storyline:

• Ballygar, Ireland, 1967: a hard-knocks community that marches to its own beat, rooted in traditions of loyalty, faith and togetherness. There’s just one tantalizing dream for the women of Ballygar to taste freedom and escape the gauntlet of domestic life: to win a pilgrimage to the sacred French town of Lourdes. And with a little benevolent interference from their cheeky and rebellious priest, close friends Lily, Eileen, Dolly and her son Daniel are the ‘lucky’ few to win this ticket of a lifetime at their riotous local raffle night.—TMDB

   

  • Director

    • Thaddeus O’Sullivan

  • Writers

    • Jimmy Smallhorne

    • Timothy Prager

    • Joshua D. Maurer

  • Stars

    • Maggie Smith

    • Kathy Bates

    • Agnes O’Casey

• Review 

  Beautifully acted film about faith and the ties that bind … despite the secrets and lies.

  An Irish parish is holding a talent contest and the winner gets a trip to Lourdes. Three friends are hoping to win but one dies before the contest. Her estranged daughter (Laura Linney) returns to the village after 40 years for the funeral.

  She’s met with resentment from her old friend (Kathy Bates) and her first love’s mother (Maggie Smith). The women don’t win the trip but end up going anyway and each one faces the limits of faith and love when they expect miracles to happen at Lourdes.

  The star actresses are all terrific and make this film worth watching. Co-stars include Stephen Rea, Niall Buggy, Agnes O’Casey, and Mark O’Halloran.