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The Wonder is a strange but captivating tale of religious pandemonium meets psychological drama set in 1862. An English nurse named Lib (Florence Pugh) is brought to a remote Irish village to observe a young girl, Anna, who is said to have survived without food for months. Anna becomes a saintly figure, with believers constantly visiting her home to witness the miracle of her piety for themselves. As commissioned by a committee of priests and village leaders, Lib must investigate how Anna has managed to survive her four-month fast while alternating shifts with a nun in a battle between medicine and faith.

Faith, Famine, and Family: The movie starts with Pugh breaking the fourth wall to urge viewers to embrace storytelling: “We are nothing without stories, so we invite you to believe in this one.” That message runs throughout the film, asking us to confront our beliefs while being wary of blind faith. Lib starts as a harsh skeptic but must quickly grapple with her confidence in herself and her devotion to Anna. But, by the end, The Wonder is driven by passion, belief, and human sympathy.

Hunger can manifest itself in many ways. Aside from the nod to faith, the movie addresses the consequences of colonialism. Set in a time when the effects of the Great Famine still linger, and centering around hunger and survival, The Wonder manages to confront themes of control and oppression.

It’s no surprise that Pugh delivers another phenomenal performance, but the true star of the film is newcomer Kila Lord Cassidy, who plays Anna. At just 13 years old, not even old enough to watch the movie, Cassidy delivers the dark subject matter like a pro. She embraces the character completely, rightfully earning her her first nomination for best breakthrough at the British Independent Film Awards.

WHERE TO WATCH - You can find The Wonder on Netflix.

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