Mon, Nov 18, 1968
"Le Miracle" (The Miracle) deals with the acute illness of Donalda Boudrier (née Laloge) (Andrée Champagne). Her husband Séraphin Boudrier (Jean-Pierre Masson) as parsimonious as ever, insists on her taking only home remedies such as syrup of flax seed for what he believes is only the flu. Unfotunately, the illness progresses quite rapidly and Donalda finally takes to her bed. The "docteur" (doctor) Bouclier (Marcel Cabay) is called to Donalda's bedside in the nick of time. Her condition is indeed more serious than Séraphin had imagined. It is a congestion of the lungs which in time would have resulted in death. The good doctor saves her with a bleeding to release the congestion in the lungs and administers drugs to help in her recovery. The poignant dramatic moment occurs when the doctor tells Séraphin that his wife is out of danger and is on her way to recovery. Copious tears are shed by Séraphin. This is very unusual behavior for him, as he did not even cry at his father's or his mother's funeral as it is related by Alexis Labranche (Guy Provost). Séraphin is so grateful that he gives the doctor $3.00, fifty-cents more than the requested $2.50 fee as requested. This is the Miracle. The miser in a gesture of generosity, forgets his penny-pinching ways and is for once gracious and grateful.