Miracles happen in unexpected ways. In the inspiring, new faith-based film “The Girl Who Believes in Miracles,” 98-year-old first-time filmmaker Laurence Jaffe emphasizes the power of miracles and God.

The film stars Academy-Award winner Mira Sorvino, Emmy winner Peter Coyote, and “God’s Not Dead” actor Kevin Sorbo.

Jaffe decided to start a new career as a filmmaker late in his life because he’s a man that’s never been afraid to take risks. How exactly was a man approaching a century of living, new to the world of cinema, able to get an Academy-Award and Emmy winning cast, you may ask?

“I guess I’ve never been one to look back, only forward. That’s the secret to a full life,” Jaffe said in a press release.
Jaffe always set the bar high for himself. He was also open to adventure.

He joined the Marine Corps when World War II broke out “because I wanted to serve with the toughest and the best.” When the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Jaffe helped medical units at Nagasaki. Following the war, he graduated from Dartmouth College. Jaffe later received his master’s degree from Columbia University. He launched a decades-long career in marketing during the “Mad Men” era and married his wife of 72 years, Hope, who passed away in October of last year.

His life has been colorful. Becoming a filmmaker late in life is just another color to add to his canvas. “The Girl Who Believes in Miracles” is about a young girl who takes God at His word and prays for people in her small town to be healed. Jaffe felt like the film is needed now more than ever.

“Both young children and old people possess the same innocent and beautiful quality – they trust. I think that after the year we’ve all endured, the world needs an uplifting movie like this to give us the capacity to trust once more.”

Today, Jaffe hopes the film will generate enough money to fund a major initiative to help the poor through a program he started to help disadvantaged children in Gainesville, Florida.

“My dream is to close the gap in income disparity that threatens the social fabric of our democracy,” Jaffe said. “That would truly be a miracle to me – and for so many others.”

Jaffe hopes this isn’t the last project you’ll see for him. He is optimistic about the future. Jaffe plans to bring his good humor to the next project he makes.

“The joke on the set was that Moses and I went to Hebrew school together,” Jaffe said. “I may not be a spring chicken, but I am still clucking.”

“The Girl Who Believes in Miracles” will premiere in theaters nationwide Easter weekend. Get a sneak peek of the film in the trailer below.