Movie Review

Film Review: THE WONDER (2022): A Dark Dramatic Film with a Solid Lead Performance by Florence Pugh

Florence Pugh The Wonder

The Wonder Review

The Wonder (2022) Film Review, a movie directed by Sebastian Lelio, written by Emma Donoghue, Alice Birch and Sebastian Lelio and starring Florence Pugh, Tom Burke, Kila Lord Cassidy, Niamh Algar, David Wilmot, Ruth Bradley, Toby Jones, Dermot Crowley, Ciaran Hinds, Brian F. O’Byrne, Josie Walker, Elaine Cassidy and Caolan Byrne.

Director Sebastian Lelio’s new film, The Wonder, is based on a book by the author of Room, Emma Donoghue. As the movie begins, it seems as if the movie is a pretty straightforward story of an English nurse named Lib Wright (Florence Pugh) who arrives in a small village to observe a young girl who she has been told has not eaten for several months. I don’t know what I was expecting but. knowing Donoghue was the author of the story this film was based upon, it was soon obvious this picture would not be easy viewing. The Wonder is an extremely challenging drama set in Ireland in 1862. Pugh is, as usual, forceful in her role creating yet another strong female character here.

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Kila Lord Cassidy plays the young girl, Anna. She hasn’t eaten for four months, and answers are necessary for all involved to understand what, exactly, is going on. How is this girl still alive? Lib is assisted by Sister Michael (Josie Walker) in keeping a close eye on Anna whose concerned mother is Rosaleen (well played by Elaine Cassidy). Could there be a reason behind why Anna is surviving without eating that is beyond human comprehension or are there simple answers that just need to be discovered? There is a secret in the plot about Anna’s now deceased teenage brother that comes into play midway through the movie. That’s just the beginning of the detailed reasoning behind what is going on with Anna.

Tom Burke serves as William Byrne, a news reporter who is suspicious of the situation and will later become romantically involved with Lib. As Lib and Anna form a powerful bond which ultimately leads to the revelation of the aforementioned secret, there is also another secret in the movie that is unleashed, and it is in direct regard to Anna’s lack of eating. There’s a very disturbing scene of Lib trying to force feed Anna through a tube as the girl physically tries to resist. Lib is trying to keep Anna alive, but the young girl continues to resist Lib’s attempts to help her eat? Why?

Toby Jones is also featured in the cast as an unsupportive doctor named McBrearty who sits with his own hunches about how Anna is surviving without food. Jones is excellent in his brief role adding an outsider’s viewpoint about the complexity of the situations that unfold in this movie.

Room from 2015 was an excellent movie that shed light on the theme of rape alongside the story of a child being trapped in a situation which is full of despair. The Wonder, which is by the same author as Room, does incorporate the topic of rape in some aspects of the plot and it’s a bit more disturbing to watch than even Room was. Emma Donoghue is never afraid to integrate difficult subject matters into her story lines. This makes for a thought-provoking experience that could shake the viewer emotionally. If you’re up for the challenge, there is no shortage of difficult subject matter in the new film.

With the new movie, its setting is everything. The time period is just around the time of a great famine and the characters are suffering, almost all of them–the likable ones and the not so likable ones. If not for Anna’s predicament, they would probably still be suffering in some shape or form. Anna’s situation just takes the attention away from the despair and creates more heartbreak in the process.

This new picture works due to Pugh’s ability to make us believe in Lib and her ambitions to discover the truth and possibly help Anna live a normal life, if at all possible. Under Lelio’s guidance, Pugh emerges with some of her most triumphant screen work to date especially in her scenes with Burke.

However, The Wonder is ultimately undermined by the weight of its own heavy themes. There isn’t much room for hope and even when the movie becomes somewhat hopeful, it still feels a bit depressing. This may well be the intentions of the filmmakers but it’s truly a difficult film to digest for viewers who may like an uplifting moment or two amidst the heavy dramatic scenes.

Still, The Wonder is recommended viewing for fans of Pugh who will be happy to know she doesn’t let her character ever become weak even in the most difficult of circumstances. Cassidy, as Anna, more than holds her own beside Pugh and is another terrific child actress to watch. Cassidy will make the audience feel for Anna and truly understand what led her to experience what she goes through in the picture. The Wonder is a good movie that’s best followed up by some though-provoking conversation followed by some more light-hearted viewing directly afterwards.

Rating: 7/10

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Thomas Duffy

Thomas Duffy is a graduate of the Pace University New York City campus and has been an avid movie fan all of his life. In college, he interviewed film stars such as Minnie Driver and Richard Dreyfuss as well as directors such as Tom DiCillo and Mark Waters. He is the author of nine works of fiction available on Amazon. He's been reviewing movies since his childhood and posts his opinions on social media. You can follow him on Twitter. His user handle is @auctionguy28.
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