Holy Days

9 year old Brian Collins struggles with memories of his recently dead mother, and agonises over his father’s plans to remarry.  He retreats to the local run-down convent where he spends most of his time helping the three elderly nuns.  Disaster strikes when the Bishop announces that the convent is to be sold and the nuns are to be sent away.  Brian is convinced his mother can help – she will bring about a miracle that will repair the convent, heal the old nuns and allow them all to stay together. 

But miracles never work out how we expect, and before long a distraught Brian learns that the convent has indeed been sold, and the nuns are to take a two-week vacation in the South Island visiting an old friend before moving.  Brian is told that they will be taking him with them on a holiday they will never forget! A holiday that will change their lives forever.

HOLY DAYS is set in New Zealand but the characters have some of the people charm of recent Irish movies, with wonderful role opportunities for name actors and an underlying base of strong, gentle relationships, overlaid by situation comedy episodes.

The convent and church setting, the Celtic overtones of the story and the immense reputation Joy has gained in the United States are likely to lead to movie distribution in America.  Every elementary school and every public library contains people who worship the ground that Joy walks on.  Hundreds of her school books have been published there for the past 20 years and in many US communities her name is a household word.

Writer:         Joy Cowley / Maggie Tarver

Director:      -

Status:         Script Available

Production:   2009