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
  • drrclavan - 24 April 2024
    Another Netflix snorefest
    I didn't like the beginning, an immediate breaking of the 4th wall, off to a bad start already.

    The movie is incredibly slow, I was about to turn it off as I had had enough but then finally after about 70 minutes there is some action, we get an idea of why things are the way they are. It's not really spelled out but to me it sounded like something with incest and when I read other reviews this was confirmed. Why can't the movie make that part clearer? It's a rather important fact that doesn't get the attention it deserves.

    Th ending was again breaking the fourth wall, I though for a moment the grown up woman at the very end was the little girl, for real, that the movie was based on a true story but even that wasn't the case, confusing.

    If you like really really slow dramas (this was NOT a thriller) then by all means watch this, otherwise give it a miss, like I should have done.
  • V Taylor - 29 July 2023
    Cinematography and lighting superb
    I won't repeat the main points made by most reviewers here - exceptional acting, unpredictable plot, remarkable music/soundscape (a bit John Cage-like) reflecting the plot tension and clash of viewpoints.

    I just wanted to give a big shout out to the breathtaking photography and lighting. Most of the indoor scenes were shot with soft warm light coming from below or to the side, grazing the faces of the actors perfectly. With the framing, lighting, and soft earth tones, you could stop this film almost anywhere and be looking at a Dutch master painting. I hope the cinematographer gets the kudos they deserve.