The Wonder

Netflix | Release Date: November 2, 2022

6.8	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Ratings

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Brent_MarchantJan 6, 2023

Though atmospheric to a fault, writer-director Sebastián Lelio’s meditation on reason vs. spirituality/mysticism struggles to effectively capture the innate essence of this age-old debate, frequently leaving viewers “wondering” where thisThough atmospheric to a fault, writer-director Sebastián Lelio’s meditation on reason vs. spirituality/mysticism struggles to effectively capture the innate essence of this age-old debate, frequently leaving viewers “wondering” where this story is headed. Set in 1862 Ireland, the film follows the experience of an English nurse (Florence Pugh) assigned to observe a spiritually oriented 11-year-old “miracle child” (Kíla Lord Cassidy) to determine how she has been able to survive in seemingly good health for months without eating, a claim that has made her the object of considerable public curiosity and scrutiny. The investigation subsequently raises numerous theoretical, philosophical and religious questions (many of which aren’t satisfactorily answered) while simultaneously revealing much about the past of both nurse and patient and documenting the inquisitiveness of the outside world as seen through the lens of a determined journalist (Tom Burke). However, the narrative underlying this ambitious undertaking doesn’t come across as being completely convincing; it often feels thin and underdeveloped, with an uneasy sense of its own inherent viability. That becomes especially apparent in several strange, out-of-place filmed segments and voiceover narrations in which the audience is being urged into believing in the merits of this story to the same degree as the performers who have signed on to appear in the movie (talk about a hard sell). Given the strength of Pugh’s fine performance and the picture’s excellent production values, it’s disappointing that the filmmaker seems so obviously unsure about what he has come up with in this picture, and, in light of Lelio’s track record with fine works like “A Fantastic Woman” (2017) and “Disobedience” (2017), I can’t help but “wonder” what drew the director to this somewhat flimsy material in the first place. Indeed, considering my interest in the subject matter, I probably cut this one more slack than I realistically should have, and my overall rating could be seen as generous. Here’s hoping better projects are in the works moving forward.… Expand

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Mauro_LanariNov 18, 2022

(Mauro Lanari)
The mother is the best example not of religious fanaticism but of Christian coherence, just as her laconic explanation is the best example of "De civitate Dei" (Augustine 413-426), which is based on two evangelical hinges: 1)(Mauro Lanari)
The mother is the best example not of religious fanaticism but of Christian coherence, just as her laconic explanation is the best example of "De civitate Dei" (Augustine 413-426), which is based on two evangelical hinges: 1) "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36); 2) Satan is "the prince of this world" (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). It is one of the many religions or spiritualities that, failing to save immanence, invented a pluriverse where the "Way, Truth and Life" exists in a parallel dimension, the so-called empirically undemonstrable "transcendence". Today we would say: "to throw the ball into the stand". Havin' clarified this, novel and film try to support a highly questionable idea: "the wonder" would consist not in an early death but in a death according to the statistical norm. Already towards the V century BC both the Qohelet (verses 4:2–3: "And I thought the dead, who have already died, more fortunate than the living, who are still alive; but better than both is the one who has not yet been, and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun"), both Sophocles ("Oedipus at Colonus", verse 1225: "Not to be born at all is best, far best that can befall. Next best, when born, with least delay to trace the backward way") shown themselves capable of claming exactly the opposite.… Expand

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royalguy07Dec 8, 2022

Pretty well structured and managed throughout, Pugh was great as always. I do have to say whatever 4th wall stuff they were doing went completely over my head.

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