The Wonder

UK Release Date. 16 November 2022
Certification. 15

Running Time. 1 hour 48 mins
Director. Sebastián Lelio
Cast. Niamh Algar, Tom Burke, Ciarán Hinds, Toby Jones, Kila Lord Cassidy, Florence Pugh.
Rating. 65%

Review.

The Wonder is this year's 'other' Florence Pugh film. Released without casting controversy, animosity amongst actors or, as far as I'm aware, any off-screen exchange of saliva between principal protagonists, The Wonder is the good one.

Adapted from Emma Donoghue's novel of the same name, The Wonder tells the story of 11-year-old Anna O'Donnell (Kila Lord Cassidy), who apparently hasn't eaten for four months and yet shows no signs of starvation. Florence Pugh gives a towering performance as the English nurse, Elizabeth Wright who is sent to observe the young girl. Observe, nothing more.

Intriguing from the outset, the film opens in a present-day film studio, where we are greeted by the actress Niamh Algar. Algar explains,

"Hello. This is the beginning. The beginning of a film called The Wonder. The people you are about to meet, the characters, believe in their stories with complete devotion. We are nothing without stories. And so we invite you to believe in this one."

Whilst breaking the fourth wall serves as a metaphor for Nurse Wright's predicament, where she too is asked to believe in a story, something that may, on the surface, seem like a hoax, I'm not sure what this opening adds to the film.

Sceptical of the miracle, Wright's only concern is for the health of the young girl. Florence Pugh delivers another accomplished performance as a woman of science isolated in a community of faith. In one desperate and devastating violation of trust, Wright endeavours to force-feed the patient. Adeptly handled by Chilean director, Sebastián Lelio, the poignant scene evokes polar emotions of accord whilst furiously wanting Wright to stop at the same time. 

The cinematography from Ari Wegner is mightily impressive. The film captures the look and feel of a famine-ravaged Ireland. Muted, misty and brooding, at times the film looks like an oil painting.

Where the pace of proceedings slows, patience is required. But the film rivals anything Sebastián Lelio has produced to date - a director whose credits include La Sagrada Familia, The Year Of The Tiger and A Fantastic Woman.