The Wonder

The Wonder

Set in the Irish Midlands in 1859 as an English nurse, Lib Wright, goes to a tiny village to observe what some see as a medical anomaly and others a miracle, that a girl has survived without food for months. Tourists flock to see 11-year-old Anna O’Donnell, and a journalist has come to cover the sensation as two strangers transform each other’s lives in a story of love pitted against evil.

  • Released: 2022-11-02
  • Runtime: 103 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, History, Mystery
  • Stars: Florence Pugh, Tom Burke, Niamh Algar, Elaine Cassidy, Kíla Lord Cassidy, Toby Jones, Ciarán Hinds, Dermot Crowley, Caolan Byrne, Brían F. O'Byrne, Josie Walker, David Wilmot, Stephen Ball, Mary Murray, Niamh Finlay, John Burke, Emer Casey, Graeme Coughlan, Abigail Coburn, Ava May Taylor, Janet Grene
  • Director: Sebastián Lelio
 Comments
  • FanOfMovingImages - 12 April 2024
    Different and enjoyable
    The movie scores on several fronts. Story is riveting. Screenplay, settings, Irish landscapes, background score all are top notch. The two main characters take up most of the screen time and they don't disappoint. Excellent performances from both. Only drawback is that the middle of the movie is drawn out and one becomes impatient to see some movement in the story. Breaking the fourth wall also seemed unnecessary and did not add anything to the viewing experience. I wondered how the main issue would be resolved, as it posed a clash between religious beliefs and child welfare. But the story developed to a point where this became irrelevant. I haven't read the book - so I have no idea how the movie compares with the book. But it's definitely worth watching.
  • taywarren29 - 22 July 2023
    Oh so that's what this is about
    I have to sadly admit that I had to read the reviews after the movie to understand what this was about. And that might sound silly, but because it's one of those slow burn films, I kept trying to find a deeper meaning that really just wasn't there because it's actually just so simple.

    This movie is literally about what it's about. It's about stories versus facts. And there's this really cool thing they do in the opening scene where they show you the set for the movie, but the rest of the film takes you deep into 1800s Ireland. And then in the end it pulls you right back out again.

    So you get to decide whether it was a story or if it was true. And relate it to your own life in a way. Personally, I was raised sans religion. I didn't even realize how seriously people believed in a god until I moved to the south. And at first I kind of thought it was a joke. Being invited to peoples churches and being told some really awful opinions about certain groups of people "because the Bible said so"...only made me feel even more grateful I wasn't brought up this way.

    Movies like this solidify these thoughts for me. Although, I have learned to have compassion for people who need a faith to live their lives. It's nothing to be shameful of, unless you're deliberately starving your child. Then you kind of deserve the fictitious burny place!
  • chaplaindad - 17 May 2023
    Another Christophobic Hate Film
    The Wonder is a paradox: a finely acted period piece that is torpedoed by its blatant Christophobic content. In what is supposed to be a more tolerant and enlightened age, the targeting of any faith group as a foundation for a film's plot is not only off-putting but at its core an exercise in deliberate offense for offense's sake. Tragically, what might have been an excellent film translates into nothing more than a simplistic science good, religion bad equation, especially as the parameters of the plot (a bizarre, fanatical town committee, a nun that exists solely to affirm the choice of the protagonists to steal a child from a family, and a family portrayed in the theological extreme) allow for no other view than a Christophobic one. Such exercises grease the skids toward intolerance at its best, and persecution in its worst expression. Most hauntingly, the deliberate kidnapping of a child from a family of faith, presented as a life-saving choice within the manufactured plot, serves as a punchline to the wanton and hateful message of this film.
  • zorroaca - 7 January 2023
    Slow But Worth the Watch
    I would give a 6.5 but I can't give it a 7... so 6 it is. I am not a fan of dark scenes and this film has a lot... but the costuming is superb, photography is good and Florence Pugh does a good job of acting. The film also does a good job of exposing the backwardness of male dominance and the church during that time period. The screenwriting concerning this is spot on and at the same time is not overdone. The screenwriting also seems original which also keeps you into it. Tom Burke and Kíla Lord Cassidy also did a good job in their parts but Florence Pugh steals the show. All in all it's a good low budget film that gets across the finish line threw thought.
  • jon_pratt12345 - 31 December 2022
    Interesting setup but fails to deliver
    In acting, cinematography and atmosphere the film does well and the makers do a good job of recreating a bleak 18th century Ireland. An English nurse is brought to a small Irish town to observe an inexplicable phenomenon occurring to a young girl, and runs up against both science and religion in her efforts to promote the girl's welfare. The story starts with a lot of promise, especially the 4th-wall breaking framing devise, and very intriguing exposition setting it all up but struggles to live up to the promise. The film settles on to a bleak and depressing rhythm an overall achieves nothing particularly new original in the themes it addresses or indeed the place and the people it is portraying.
  • magdalenalaiminger - 23 December 2022
    Will-O-Wisp: A Theory
    I think Lib Wright is the embodiment of a Will-O-Wisp. Let me explain why.

    From the Northern European tales I've been told growing up, a Will-O-Wisp can be viewed as a spirit that leads you to your fate. It can also be viewed as a guardian angel. I know there's more definitions out there. But these two would both fit perfectly into the story as Lib can be seen as leading Anna towards her fate and also acting as her guardian angel. Quite literally even as she saves her life from her own family. The nun even called Lib Anna's guardian angel.

    Like I said, Will-O-Wisps are being interpreted in many ways, the following might also make sense: Spirits of un-baptized or stillborn children, flitting between heaven and hell.

    With Lib's newborn dying and dead or dying children wandering between heaven and hell in the film I think this could also makes a lot of sense.

    When a Will-O-Wisp is portrayed in books, films or games, the picture we get painted is a blue ball of light, a vibrant spirit. Our main protagonist Lib Wright wears blue clothes for most of the film.

    The soundtrack of The Wonder reminds me a lot of the sounds of fates and spirits. We even hear a disembodied whisper (quoting Netflix's subtitles here) multiple times throughout the film. That could be the sound of the Will-O-Wisp.

    In one scene when Lib walks upstairs to Anna's room, I noticed a blue shimmer right behind Lib at the wall and when it appeared there was a distinct sound appearing along with it.

    (If anyone is interested in this review I can give you the exact time I noticed the blue shimmer and other things in the film, except you've seen it too, but I'd be happy to talk about the theory anyway.)
  • ella_kelbert - 14 December 2022
    Low rates don't apply - it's a good movie
    It was a better movie than I expected.

    Florence Pugh and the young girl had both great performances.

    The story was catchy, I couldn't stop watching until the end.

    Of course, it's not for every viewer. It's a little dark and heavy, but not a minute too long. That atmosphere is certainly on purpose, to keep the public on the edge of their seat.

    There aren't many dialogs, but there's no need for it. There's no phrase too much nor missing.

    The outdoors scenes and scenarios in old Ireland are simple but very effective in setting the tone of the movie.

    As said, Pugh's performance level was higher than I expected. It was a very nice discovery for me.

    For those who like movies out of the ordinary, I think you'll like it!
  • beccar-01261 - 6 December 2022
    Good watch
    I didn't mind the opening scene or narrator/breaking the 4th wall, I know alot of people didn't, it got me interested in the film. The set designs, costumes ect were fantastic. A small cast with a few sets, really good concept for a film. Lots of different characters in a small space. Great acting from all the characters no matter how big or small their part was, Florence especially.. some scenes can feel a little repetitive at times but this is due to the plot of the film. It is not a scary film or a thriller stated on some websites but more a drama. I do love movies set in these time periods.
  • estelle58 - 1 December 2022
    Makes you "wonder"
    I watched this film last night and thought, how strange. I usually enjoy period pieces but I did not really get the gist of what was going on here. Much of it was nuanced, and maybe I was just too tired to pick up on the subtleties this film was trying to project.

    In the first moments of the film we learn about some enigmatic young girl who has seemingly stayed healthy even though she has not eaten anything in 4 months time. I was really intrigued by that premise as I read about a German woman named Therese Neumann, a Catholic Mystic and Stigmatic, who supposedly did not eat or drink anything (except the Eucharistic host) from 1926 until her death in 1962. Skeptics stated they proved this to be a hoax, however.

    But I digress. I decided to do some research about this film to try and understand some of what was happening here. The research paid off because what the film did not make very clear, an article on Screen Rant did.

    I find films more enjoyable when I can understand or figure out what is going on rather than having to find out searching another source. I gave it a 5 for the curiosity it rose in me.
  • ancsdavalos - 28 November 2022
    Eh
    It was boring and too long. As a Christian, I despise movies where fake Christian's make actual followers of Jesus look bad. Jesus died for our sins, we put our faith in Him, we repent- we are saved. We do not need to starve ourselves to death to go to heaven. There is no purgatory either. This little girl could not save her soul nor her brothers soul- only Jesus Christ can save souls. We cannot save ourselves or others. Hate movies that talk about Jesus but aren't even biblically accurate.

    So to sum up, I wouldn't recommend the movie. It was boring and of course gives Christian's a bad rep. I did enjoy the ending.