Movie about reported miracle site will play next week in Morgan City

The documentary film “Apparition Hill” will be playing Aug. 4 at Lake Cinema in Morgan City, thanks to Berwick resident Robin Guarisco.

What started out as a one-day event showing a film documenting miracles experienced at Medjugorje in the Balkans can be viewed for seven additional days.

Medjugorje is a small village in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Some believe the Blessed Virgin Mary has been appearing and giving messages to the world since 1981, according to the Medjugorje website.

The “Apparition Hill” film crew invited people to submit videos stating why they want to visit Medjugorje, a place of alleged miracles, said on the apparitionhill.tv website.

Over 160 entries were submitted and eight people were selected to participate in the documentary.

The film crew follows the eight strangers as they investigate one of the greatest paranormal mysteries in the world at Medjugorje. The cast members are:

—Holly, mother diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

—Ryan, mid- 20s man struggling with addiction.

—Mark, an atheist police officer.

—Rich, widower and single father of nine.

—Jill, a Catholic for 13 years and doesn’t know what to do with Mary.

—Darryl, a father diagnosed with ALS.

—Peter, an atheist.

— Cimela , who thought it would be cool to go on the journey. She also helped to produce the documentary.

Guarisco convinced the owners of Lake Cinema theatre to show the film without charge. But it had to be done as a fundraiser.

Initially, it was an idea just to bring the movie to the area for a day.

Since it had to be a fundraiser, the moment turned into an opportunity to raise money for St. Joseph Abbey and Seminary College.

The campus experienced extensive damage due to flooding in March.

“When I started working on the movie, the flood hadn’t even occurred,” Guarisco said. “They told me I was able to do it as a fundraiser.

“They’ve been so kind. And they gave me the theatre free. I’m just so overjoyed, overwhelmed with that because I didn’t expect that.”

The floodwaters from the Bogue Falaya River engulfed St. Joseph Abbey and Seminary College with approximately two feet of water.

A record number of seminarians are expected to enroll this fall. Buildings need to be equipped to accommodate students.

Thirty-one buildings and structures suffered damage, including classrooms, residence halls, library, gym, dining hall and kitchen. Historic buildings were also damaged along with electrical and air conditioning systems.

The estimate for costs for cleanup and repair is $30 million. As of June, $2.1 million was raised.

Guarisco sold tickets to the documentary for $10. All 600 tickets were sold. As a result, Lake Cinema decided to show the movie seven additional days. It will play during regularly scheduled feature times.

“It was such a popular demand,” said Lake Cinema manager Darlene Toups. “Ms. Robin was the one promoting it and doing it for St. Joseph Abbey. And she had such popular demand of people wanting it, we were able to get it in. It’s an independent film, so, we’re going to play it for a week and that way people throughout all over can come out and watch it.”

Regular scheduled showings of “Apparition Hill” begin Aug. 5. For times check your local newspaper or contact Lake Cinema at 985-384-0280.