The Miracle (1991)

The two teenagers Jimmy and Rose spend their vacation at the small Irish sea-resort Bray. Out of boredom they observe other people and imagine wild stories about them. One day they observe ... See full summary »

Director:

Neil Jordan

Writer:

Neil Jordan

Stars:

Beverly D'Angelo, Donal McCann, Niall Byrne

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Beverly D'Angelo	...	Renee Baker
Donal McCann	...	Sam
Niall Byrne	...	Jimmy
Lorraine Pilkington	...	Rose
J.G. Devlin	...	Mr. Beausang
Cathleen Delany	...	Miss Strange (as Cathleen Delaney)
Tom Hickey	...	Tommy
Shane Connaughton	...	Rose's Father
Mikkel Gaup	...	Jonner
Sylvia Teron	...	Muscular Lady
Anita Reeves	...	Ballroom Stager
Ruth McCabe	...	Wardrobe Mistress
Jer O'Leary	...	Barman
Earl Gill	...	Trumpet, Sam's Band (as Earl Gil)
Johnny Devlin	...	Saxophone, Sam's Band

Storyline

The two teenagers Jimmy and Rose spend their vacation at the small Irish sea-resort Bray. Out of boredom they observe other people and imagine wild stories about them. One day they observe the blonde Renee, and Jimmy is immediately fascinated by her and even follows her home. She, too, seems to like him, but for a mysterious reason keeps him at a distance.

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Plot Keywords:

incestuous kiss | seaside town | saxophone | zoo | circus | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and brief sensuality

Details

Country:

UK Ireland

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 April 1991 (UK)

Also Known As:

Amar Uma Desconhecida

Filming Locations:

Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Box Office

Gross:

$835,519 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Screen Productions, Channel Four Films, Cineplex Odeon Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Serial Mom (1994)

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Soundtracks

"Quando Quando Quando"
(uncredited)
Written by Alberto Testa and Tony Renis

User Reviews

All the elements of winning movie-making

Very much like Jordan's breakthrough, "The Crying Game," this earlier film wraps deftly realized details of contemporary Irish life around a fairy-tale plot, making an otherwise implausible denouement seem inevitable. Though the characters are almost archetypes, the solid performances and generally sharp dialogue freshen an age-old premise, and the banter between Jimmy and Rose is especially notable. The photography is at once unforgiving and lyrical, lending a haunted quality to the decaying seaside setting and evoking a carnivalesque atmosphere. The real star here, though, is Jordan's fundamentally cinematic sensibility; the effect the film creates would be diminished in any other medium. "The Miracle" amounts to more than the sum of its parts, and is one of this director's best efforts.