Expecting a Miracle

Expecting a Miracle

Year: 2009

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Steve Gomer

DramaTV Movie

Botched directions lead a struggling couple to a small Mexican town whose residents have a positive effect on the pair’s faltering marriage.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Expecting a Miracle (2009)

Trace every key event in Expecting a Miracle (2009) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Infertility troubles in Los Angeles

Pete and Donna realize medical issues prevent them from conceiving. The strain tests their marriage as the dream of a family feels distant. To reconnect and find escape, they decide to take a vacation.

before the trip Los Angeles, California
2

Stranded in Dommatina after car trouble

They travel to Mexico but their car breaks down, leaving them stranded in the small village of Dommatina. With no immediate way to leave, their plans for a quick getaway unravel. The locals’ hospitality and charm begin to offer a lifeline.

early in the trip Dommatina, Mexico
3

Pepillo and companions introduced

In Dommatina, they meet Pepillo, a crippled boy, his adult brother Juan, Magdalena who cares for village children, and Father Arturo the priest. Pepillo’s accident and the loss of his parents have shaped the village’s tight-knit, hopeful atmosphere. The strangers feel the village’s warmth as they become part of the community.

shortly after arrival Dommatina village
4

The saint’s legend and the fiesta tradition

The villagers recount the legend behind the flying rite: a saint blessed a crippled boy, who turned into a dove and back to a healed child. The tale frames the upcoming fiesta and Pepillo’s hopeful flight. The myth gives the ceremony a miraculous aura the newcomers begin to sense.

weeks before the fiesta Dommatina plaza
5

Juan’s delayed car repair

Juan attempts to fix the car but essential parts must be ordered and take time to arrive. The delay strains their window for leaving and deepens the sense of being trapped. Yet the village keeps working toward the fiesta as the clock ticks.

two days before fiesta Dommatina workshop
6

Pete helps with festival preparations

Pete lends his engineering mind to Father Arturo’s preparations, helping to assemble the flying contraption and plan the ceremony. He earns the villagers’ trust as he shows practical problem solving. The collaboration strengthens Pete and Donna’s bond with the community.

two days before fiesta Dommatina workshop/plaza
7

A safer flying machine is built

With parts arriving too late, Pete designs a safer machine and sacrifices the newly arrived car part to ensure the central axis will function. The village watches as the adjustments take shape, giving Pepillo a real chance to fly. Hope rises that this could be a moment of healing.

one day before fiesta Dommatina workshop
8

Pepillo’s funding decision for surgery

Facing the fear that Pepillo will still not be cured, Pete and Donna decide to use their fertility-treatment funds to pay for Pepillo’s doctor and potential surgery. They acknowledge the real possibility of disappointment but choose generosity over personal desire. The family’s future begins to hinge on Pepillo’s fate.

the eve of the flight Dommatina village
9

Pepillo flies and the miracle claim

On the day of Pepillo’s flight, he urges Father Arturo and a village helper to push the machine faster and higher. The contraption strains to its limits, and Pepillo crashes, hitting the saint statue. He rises and discovers his leg is miraculously cured, a moment Pete and Donna call a genuine miracle.

during the flight Dommatina plaza
10

A vow to preserve the miracle and help Pepillo

Pete and Donna vow to bring Pepillo to the United States to keep the miraculous cure real, while still supporting him and the village. They acknowledge that Pepillo has changed them. Their decisions signal a new family path beyond the village.

immediately after the flight Dommatina
11

Return to Los Angeles and plan to adopt

Back home, Pete and Donna decide to adopt a child, realizing their family is changing in unexpected ways. The decision feels inseparable from Pepillo’s influence on their hearts. They begin the formal process with renewed hope.

after returning home Los Angeles, California
12

Donna’s pregnancy surprise

Donna experiences heartburn and takes a pregnancy test, discovering she is pregnant against all odds. The couple celebrates this unexpected turn while still honoring Pepillo’s miracle. Their growing family seems almost fated by the trip.

after the adoption decision Los Angeles, California

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 09:33

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Expecting a Miracle

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