The Parish

Strange events plague a recently widowed woman and her young daughter when they move to a small town.

The true story of Frank Higgins, whose large heart and courage would bring hope and reformation to the dark world of the Minnesota lumber camps and birth the largest parish known to man: The Parish of the Pines.

In this movie (based on a true story) within a movie, a director tries to film the tale of an old KGB activist living in a parish house. In the summer of 1941 the activist tortured and killed Latvians in the cellar of the house. Although the old man hires others to brick over the cellar door, the murdered people keep coming through the stones and never leave him in peace. Unbeknownst to the film makers, the "real" KGB activist, now an aged drunk, is milling about the film set. Moreover, the director and lead actor are competing for the love of the lead actress, and the film's producer wants the director to re-shoot parts of the movie.

The Marquise de Saint-Ange wants to marry her niece Nicole, but the young girl, put off by the chosen suitor, flees with her friend Jacques.

The parish priest looks to create a Nativity scene for his church, but his congregation is too poor to afford the statuary dealer's price for a statue of baby Jesus. The miracle, then, is that the faithful's prayers are answered by the appearance of angels and the Virgin Mary, who present them with a statue.

This film about a procession is one of the most antique pieces of Spanish cinema.

Resources to explore every aspect of church and parish

Two titans of the musical theatre -- songwriters Burton Lane and Mitchell Parish -- get the biographical star treatment. A protégé of George Gershwin, Lane penned many classics of Tin Pan Alley, including the scores of "Finian's Rainbow" and "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever." Mitchell Parish is famous for composing many hits of the Big Band era and for lyrics that were featured in the films Ulee's Gold and Paris Blues.