The church, religion and medical science have a lot to answer for in The Wonder. This is acclaimed director Sebastián Lelio’s first feature since Gloria Bell (2018).
In 1862, nurse Lib Wright (Florence Pugh) travels from England to small-town Ireland to watch an 11-year-old girl Anna O’Donnell (Kila Lord Cassidy). The reason soon becomes clear. Anna hasn’t eaten in four months and yet seems to be perfectly healthy. A committee has decided that Mrs Wright and a nun will monitor Anna around the clock for a fortnight. They’re then to report their findings – independent of each other.
Inconceivable as it seems, the church is obviously hoping that Anna is, indeed, a miracle child. When Mrs Wright starts her assignment, visitors and Anna’s family are freely able to interact with the God-fearing child. But Mrs Wright tightens the reins and Anna’s condition quickly deteriorates, so much so that the girl faces imminent death. Yet the committee wants Mrs Wright to see this through to the end, without intervening to save Anna’s life. Meanwhile, a journalist from a London daily, William Byrne (Tom Burke), has been dispatched to get the real story. In this patriarchal society, power, politics and religion rule. Although the odds are heavily stacked against her, Mrs Wright brings morality and humanity into the picture.
As it turns out, the reporter, Mrs Wright, Anna and Anna’s folks all have devastating back stories, which form important parts of the narrative. Director and co-writer (with Alice Birch), Sebastian Lelio has created a grim drama from a book by Emma Donoghue.
Florence Pugh is staunch and compelling in the lead. Her characterisation is intense and conveys a “don’t mess with me” attitude, as she continues to build on an already fine body of acting work.
A sense of dread permeates proceedings. Cinematographer Ari Wegner well captures the desolate homestead where Anna spends most of her days. Composer Matthew Herbert’s score aids the feeling that all is not right.
But the success of this independent movie, where the reveals come piecemeal, fundamentally gets down to Pugh’s command of her art.
The Wonder is in limited cinema release, and then on Netflix from 16 November 2022
Alex First
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- Lady Macbeth – movie review
- Fighting with My Family – movie review
- Don’t Worry Darling – movie review
Alex First is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.