The Wonder movie on Netflix stars Florence Pugh as Lib Wright, Tom Burke as William Byrne, Kila Lord Cassidy as Anna O’Donnel, Elaine Cassidy as Rosaleen O’Donnel, Caolán Byrne as Malachy O’ Donnell, Niamh Algar as Kitty, Ciarán Hinds as Father Thaddeus, Toby Jones as Dr McBrearty and others. Directed by Sebastián Lelio, the period drama is based on Emma Donoghue’s book of the same name. Emma has penned the screenplay with Alice Birch and Sebastián. The cinematography is by Ari Wegner, and the editing is done by Kristina Hetherington.
The music is by Matthew Herbert, and the runtime is of 103 minutes. The synopsis reads, “The Wonder is the tale of a young Irish girl, Anna O’Donnell, whose Catholic family claim she has eaten nothing since her eleventh birthday… four months ago.”
The Wonder Movie Review Contains No Spoilers
Netflix film The Wonder is set in 1862, more than a decade after the Great Famine. Lib Wright, played by Florence, is an English nurse called to the Irish Midlands to watch an 11-year-old Anna O’Donnell. Anna’s family and people from around claim that the girl hasn’t eaten anything for 4 months after her 11th birthday. Nurse Wright is asked to watch Anna for 14 days to examine her health and keep watching everything she does.
Every day, Lib learns a shocking truth about Anna and her family. When asked how she survives miraculously without food, the girl says she lives off manna from heaven. Is Anna the miracle the community claims to be? What is the truth, and will Lib find it out? We get our answers in the end.
Sebastián Lelio’s The Wonder movie opens with a voiceover from Kitty, played by Niamh Algar. Niamh tells us to believe the story as the characters in the movie believe it. It’s a weird opening. When the movie starts, it doesn’t take much time for us to delve into Lelio’s world, where we meet the bright and fierce nurse Lib Wright. Often addressed as Mrs Wright, she’s a nurse with great observation skills and a painful past.
When Lib meets Anna, she is convinced from the first meeting that Anna isn’t any miracle and is secretly given food. However, even Anna isn’t aware of how that’s happening. Despite the story featuring a doctor and some scholar men, the community wants to believe it’s a miracle. Almost every character has questionable beliefs and blind faith.
Anna earnestly shares her sentiments with Lib; as a viewer, it all sounds absurd. The screenplay is gripping. It’s a perfect balance of mystery, eeriness and suspense. After every meeting with Anna, Lib becomes anxious and closer to finding the answers. Her concern becomes our keenness to know what exactly she is thinking, observing and going to do next.
Also Read: The White Lotus Season 2 Episode 3 Review/Recap: Bull Elephants
The truth about everything happening with Anna is heartbreaking and might trigger some people. But it’s not surprising because even in today’s “modern times”, many people are involved in immoral activities and go to extreme lengths due to their blind religious faith.
I am impressed with the movie’s third act, not because of how it shaped for Anna, but Lib Wright. Some people find it hard to let go of their past, leading to making shady and immoral decisions. Like Anna, Lib is also attached unhealthily to her past, full of grief and loss.
Cinematographer Ari Wegner captures the oddity of the community and the place with some still shots that help us look at each scene carefully. It’s an intense period drama, but the scenes and characters, especially Florence, look exceptional. Matthew Herbert’s chilling background music heightens the tension the director wants us to experience through his vision.
Coming to performances, Florence Pugh is back to her element with another period drama. The actor has always left us in awe of her characters and performances in the genre. Yet again, she wins you with her brilliant and powerful performance as Lib Wright. Actor Kíla Lord Cassidy also does a fantastic job as Anna, a girl who’s a mystery and a miracle to people and the viewers.
Netflix’s The Wonder Review: Final Thoughts
Overall, The Wonder on Netflix is profound and engaging. It is perfectly balanced with ingredients that give a thought-provoking movie to watch on Netflix. Give it a watch to be thrilled by the fascinating narrative, creepiness, amazing performances and, of course, the very talented Florence Pugh!
The movie is now streaming on Netflix.
Also Read: The Crown Season 5 Review: Royal Family Drama Becomes a Dull History Lesson