The Best Movie EVER: Miracle Season

Miracle Season on Netflix, is a heartwarming and soul crushing movie set in Iowa City, Iowa, in 2011 where the City West High School Girls Varsity Volleyball Team goes through unbelievable highs and lows. From losing their team captain Caroline Found (Danika Yarosh) in a tragic death, to coming together to become stronger as a team. Through this journey, Line or Caroline (Danika Yarosh)’s best friend steps up and takes her place in the team’s time of need, leading to an incredible climax that shows how true teamwork really pays off in the end. And the best part, this is all a true story. 

In this movie, the characters make the biggest impact. 

Caroline Found: Played by Danika Yarosh 

Caroline, also known as “Line” was a friend to everyone. “Caroline had the gift of letting everybody know that she cared about them, even the kids on the margins”. This was said by Caroline’s actual coach in real life during a Great American Journal interview on the true story behind Miracle Season. Kathy Bresnahan was Caroline’s former high school volleyball coach during her junior year in high school, but not her senior year. Coach Kathy had a “tough-love” attitude which sometimes clashed with Caroline’s overly positive attitude. However, she had never been able to avoid Caroline’s warm personality and how she was as bright as the sun. 

Caroline was a star on and off the court, but especially on the court. She was the best team captain who knew how to bring her team to victory. She was a setter who knew what was what. 

Caroline was loved by everyone from everywhere, and that made her moped accident even more tragic. On August 11, 2011, all of Iowa City mourned for her. She was gone, and her joyful laughter wouldn’t be heard again. 

Kelly Fliehler: Played by Erin Mariarty

The team was in despair, no one could go to practice without leaving the gym as quickly as they had come, tears falling by the second. Coach Kathy had no control over the girls, and it didn’t help that she was having her own moments just like they were. But, then Kelly came in. Coach Kathy needed someone to bring the team back together and to come back stronger, and who better to do that than Caroline’s best friend, Kelly Fliehler (Erin Mariarty)?

In real life, Kelly Fliehler and Caroline Found had been inseparable friends since they were three years old, being childhood friends. No one grieved more than Kelly, she had lost the person who could make her happy, no matter what.

Kelly took Line’s death into her own hands. She began to bring back the girls, led them to see what they could do for their fallen leader, instead of just grieving. They could win State again if they tried, and not just do it for themselves, but for Line. That’s where they came up with Live Like Line. They would represent her and do what she would do in the same situation. And she would always come back stronger. 

Ernie Found: Played by William Hurt

During life, sometimes you find people who are doctors, hard workers, or just great friends. Ernie was all of that, along with being an amazing friend, husband, and  father. He worked as a spine surgeon at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery in Iowa City and also worked as an educator there. Later on in life, he found his wife Ellyn Found and was joined by his first son, Greg. Soon they had moved to Iowa together along with a huge farmhouse that soon became a sanctuary for many in the town of Iowa City. 

In all he is an amazing person and had supported the Iowa City High School Girls Volleyball team all the way to their second state championship. Even though he lost his daughter, Caroline Found, and his wife, Ellyn Found, he always “found” a way to make things better. He loved others and hsi family and the whole community. 

Ernie is a huge part of the movie who completely supports the team and especially Kelly through finding her spot on the team. With Ernie’s support the team finds a way to succeed by coming together after the death of their captain. Ernie makes sure to keep the girls positive, even though he is the one who is most affected by the loss, he is the one who is able to help others. This really shows how much of a heart Ernie has and how much he keeps the movie going. 

During one scene in the movie, Ernie goes ahead and supports the team consistently by attending every game and being there for the girls. While the girls are having a hard time on the court, Ernie is there cheering them on and the girls are able to see that if Ernie can be strong, they can too. 

This is where the story really starts to get interesting. Ernie finds a way to support the team and the team starts to find their groove. They begin to win games, destroy the other teams, and find their center where they continue to grow. 

The Found Family

As soon as Line’s siblings heard of their little sister’s accident, they flew over as fast as possible. This is solid evidence that they truly care for their sister and are willing to drop everything in their life to go and attend her funeral. Throughout the movie, there is so much evidence that talks about how everyone in the Found family puts family first. Ernie talks about his never ending list of “ifs” to Kelly. These were all, if he had done something different that night, maybe Line would be gone. Ellyn-Line’s mom-made sure to WALK into her daughter’s funeral she said, “It’s our baby’s wake, Ernie. I am walking in there on my own two feet”

One of the biggest, most amazing parts of the movie was two scenes that connected to show the unbreakable bond between Caroline and her mother. During a visit to Ellyn at the hospital, both Ernie and Ellyn told Line that her mother wouldn’t be able to live through the end of her high school year, however Line doesn’t believe it. She tells her mother that she will be at her high school graduation, and her wedding and says, “No matter what, we’ll always be together.” This ended the scene, but later, when Ellyn attended Line’s funeral, she walked in and said the same to her daughter’s casket. “No matter what, we’ll be together. No matter what.” 

Things I Wish Were Different

While I love this movie with all my heart, I have some things that I would change. First of all, I wish that this movie was a TV show instead. Throughout the movie I found small parts where I thought, “Hey, wait what just happened?” I go back and find that there isn’t anything that I’ve missed, but it’s something the directors have. The biggest part is when the movie didn’t really emphasize the death of Ellyn a week after her daughter, Caroline.  Second, I wish that the relationship between Line and her older siblings could have been more fleshed out. This is because the movie never really specifies what kind of relationship Line had with her older brother and sister. Both older siblings may have had already moved out of the house way before Line had her accident, but we’re not sure what role they played in Line’s life.

In general, this is one of the most heartwarming movies I have ever watched. I’m sure that at this point it is my favorite movie of all time because it brings together a terribly heartbreaking story and includes that most amazing comeback, it includes volleyball, and best of all… it’s a true story. 

P.S. THIS MOVIE IS LEAVING NETFLIX SOON SO WATCH IS ASAP. YOU’RE MISSING OUT!!!!!