''Looking for Miracles'' is a 1989

made-for-TV film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a terrestr ...

based on the memoir of the same name by A.E. Hotchner. Filmed primarily in southern

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, it is a story of growing up and relationships, focusing on the experience of two brothers at a

summer camp A summer camp, also known as a sleepaway camp or residential camp, is a supervised overnight program for children conducted during the summer vacation from school in many countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer residential camps ...

during the

Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

. The director, producer, and co-writer is Kevin Sullivan.

Synopsis

Set in the summer of 1935, 16-year-old Ryan Delaney (

Greg Spottiswood Greg Spottiswood is a Canadian actor and television producer.Vit Wagner, "Actor experienced at looking innocent". ''Toronto Star'', April 27, 1990. He is most noted for his leading performance in the 1989 television film '' Looking for Miracles'', ...

) wants to go to university on a scholarship, but his struggling mother (Patricia Phillips) wants him to stay home, find work, and take care of his 10-year-old brother Sullivan (

Zachary Bennett Zachary Bennett is a Canadian actor and musician.Rita Zekas, "It was good to be King; Road To Avonlea prankster now an object of Desire". ''Toronto Star'', February 6, 2002. Early life He was born in London, Ontario. He is the second youngest of ...

). Due to circumstances relating to the Depression, the brothers were separated and have recently reunited. Ryan is easily annoyed by his little brother. Desperate to find a job, Ryan manages to gain a position as a counselor at Camp Hochelaga despite the fact that he is not qualified; he is too young, has never been to camp, and cannot swim, none of which he reveals during his interview with the camp director, Chief Berman (

Joe Flaherty Joseph Flaherty (born Joseph O'Flaherty, June 21, 1941 – April 1, 2024) was an American actor, writer, and comedian. He is best known for his work on the Canadian sketch comedy '' SCTV'' from 1976 to 1984 (on which he also served as a write ...

). The ruse is so effective that Ryan is offered the lead counselor position for the group of age 10 boys. After his mother tells him that he cannot go to camp without Sullivan, Ryan convinces Chief Berman to allow the young boy to attend. Being age 10, Sullivan is assigned to Ryan's group. At the start of camp, Ryan struggles in his position. When he is asked to move a vehicle on the first day, he does not reveal that he cannot drive and ends up having a minor accident. A counselor in Ryan's group named Mo ( Hugh Thompson) quickly becomes suspicious of him and comes to realize that he is not qualified. However, he keeps Ryan's secret and the two become good friends. They work together to manage their group of campers, which includes a troubled brat who goes by the nickname of Ratface (Noah Godfrey). Ratface initially is a constant behavior problem for the counselors and is mean to Sullivan. Eventually, though, they come to understand Ratface's troubled home life and the two boys become friends. The film is a story of growing up. By the end, Ryan and Sullivan develop a close relationship.

Cast

as Ryan Delaney *

as Sullivan Delaney *

as Chief Berman *

Patricia Gage Patricia Gage (3 March 1940 – 31 January 2010)In Memoriam – Pat ...

as Grace Gibson * Patricia Phillips as Mrs. Delaney * Noah Godfrey as Ratface * Paul Haddad as Paul * Dean Hamilton as Babe * Hugh Thompson as Mo * Eric Fink as Floyd

Awards

* 1989 - ACE Award for Best Art Direction * 1989 - ACE Award for Best Costume Design * 1989 - ACE Award for Best Movie * 1989 - Chris Award for Art & Culture -

Columbus International Film & Video Festival The Columbus International Film + Animation Festival is a Columbus, Ohio, United States annual film festival A film festival is an organized, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theater, cinemas or screening venues, usually ann ...

* 1989 - Giffoni Award -

Giffoni Film Festival The Giffoni International Film Festival is an Italian children's film festival which takes place annually in Giffoni Valle Piana, Campania. It began in 1971. The Giffoni International Film Festival typically has around 100,000 guests and has ...

* 1989 - Ollie Award for Best Outstanding Family Programming - American Children's Television Festival * 1989 - Silver Hugo Award for Feature Films Made for TV -

Chicago International Film Festival The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964 by Michael Kutza, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. Its logo is a stark, black and white close up of the comp ...

* 1989 - Silver Medal for Teen Special Category -

New York Film Festival The New York Film Festival (NYFF) is a film festival held every fall in New York City, presented by Film at Lincoln Center. Founded in 1963 by Richard Roud and Amos Vogel with the support of Lincoln Center president William Schuman, NYFF i ...

* 1990 - Bronze Award for Feature Made for Television - The Houston International Film Festival * 1990 -

Daytime Emmy Award The Daytime Emmy Awards, or Daytime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NA ...

for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming (Greg Spottiswood)"Greg Spottiswood wins Daytime Emmy". ''

Toronto Star The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part of Torstar's Daily News Brands (Torstar), Daily News Brands division. ...

'', June 26, 1990. * 1990 - Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming (

) * 1990 -

Gemini Award The Gemini Awards were awards given by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television between 1986–2011 to recognize the achievements of Canada's English-language television industry. The Gemini Awards are analogous to the Emmy Awards given in t ...

for Best Supporting Actor (

) * 1990 - Gold Apple Award - National Educational Film & Video Festival * 1990 - International Monitor Award for Best Director ( Kevin Sullivan) * 1991 - Best Children's Film – Canadian Film Celebration, Calgary * 1991 - European Jury Prize for Best Screenplay - Umbriafiction TV Festival, Italy

References

External links

Sullivan Entertainment: ''Looking For Miracles''
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Looking For Miracles 1980s coming-of-age films 1980s teen drama films Canadian drama television films English-language Canadian films Films about brothers Films about children Films directed by Kevin Sullivan Films set in 1935 Films about summer camps 1989 films 1989 television films 1989 in Canadian television 1980s Canadian films