‘A Miracle’ Netflix Movie Review - Awfully Boring and Very Dramatic

I don’t know why the makers thought of making a movie like this. From start to end, none of it made sense. The story revolves around Elsa, a young woman who resides in the town of Cupang. Elsa is no ordinary girl (apparently), as she claims to have seen the Virgin Mary’s apparition during a solar eclipse. This also gives her special power to heal people from any disease they suffer from. The town of Cupang is suffering from drought, which the people of the town believe is a curse. Now, let's go back to how her adoptive mother found her. Elsa’s mother found her on top of a hill with a picture of the Virgin Mary. That is the start of the faith healing journey. Along with her friends, she continues to engage in religious healing, which draws people from nearby villages for healing. Cupang people start selling food and other things, which, as a result, capitalizes their town.

Orly, a Manila-based filmmaker curious about Elsa, comes in order to make a documentary on her. Orly continues interviewing people who know her. One day, he witnesses two drunken people forcing themselves on Elsa. This incident leaves Elsa pregnant, which her group claims is a part of being blessed by the Virgin Mary. However, it is Orly who knows the truth and informs the priest about the same. Another pandemic ends up affecting the town of Cupang, which leads to the deaths of people, and sadly, Elsa can't stop it. Will this negatively impact her practice? Does she really have powers as she claims? What will happen to the town once tourists stop coming?

So this is overall a very confusing plot. It is all the more difficult to process things since it is in the form of a musical. People are singing and dancing continuously. As a result, it is a bit tricky to get a grasp of what is happening. The moment things start making sense, another song comes up. While I do understand that this is a musical and that is what we should expect out of it, things become irritating after a point when the plot becomes serious. Even the setup feels like a drama or a play rather than an actual movie.

Another thing is that the acting isn’t convincing at all. It feels that everyone is relying on the music to be played as an escape from expression. However, they don’t realize that even singing requires expression. Everything is bland. Even the pacing is erratic, which leaves you frustrated while watching it. I, for sure, at one point did question myself as to what I was watching. It gets as annoying as it could, which forces you to fast-forward.  One might even question the plot line since it will leave you with many questions. For example, Elsa’s adoptive mother’s claims look very baseless when she confesses the truth. Even Elsa’s confession will leave you wondering why you watched the entire movie. The movie is very lengthy, and let me tell you: the sole reason it is lengthy is that it is dragged for no necessary reason. It is too much melodrama and very little understanding. So dear viewers, I would suggest you watch something better. Even if you are a fan of musicals, there are some great ones that exist, which I am sure you will like to watch. Invest your time in them rather than this movie, which will leave you feeling exhausted.

Final Score- [3/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times