“I’m a woman who has been through a lot in my life,” Algar says. “I’ve been through the pain of being raped, the pain of being trafficked, and the pain of being homeless. I’ve had to learn how to live on my own.” The film follows Algar as she begins her journey to find her place in the world and become self-sufficient. Along the way, she meets other women who have also experienced difficult times and share their stories with Algar in order to help her understand herself better.
“This is a film about the power of love.”
This is a film about people. A film about the stories they tell, and the stories they create. We are nothing without them, and so we invite you to believe in this one.
The camera pans around the cabin and then settles on Florence Pugh as she eats her meal. She is sitting at a creaky wooden table, smoke rising from a stove behind her. The table is cluttered with food and tools, and there is a sense of unease in the air.
Lelio’s opening metaphor is that the film’s main story is a hoax, and that Pugh’s nurse, Lib Wright, is also encouraged to believe in it.
Moments after the opening, we see Lib on a horse-drawn carriage being transported through the Irish countryside to the village inn where she has booked a room to stay. As the film is now on location, we can start to believe in the events that follow, as we were invited to at the beginning.
Anna has been observed by a nurse who seems to be healthy. This is the miracle that has entranced the people in the local community, but is the girl’s story something Lib can believe in?
The villagers are sceptical of Anna’s story and her only concern is for her health and well-being. They are worried that the girl may be starving, but when she tries to convince the village elders of this, they ridicule her position and tell her to get back to the job she hired her to do. It’s clear that some of the committee do believe in Anna’s story with “complete devotion,” as incredulous as it might seem.
In the film, Anna suggests that God is providing her with “manna from Heaven.” However, the child herself is not sure if this is true or not. The film eventually reveals that the truth is ultimately revealed. Whether or not you believe in God will depend on your personal beliefs.
The expert cinematography and acting perfectly captures the look and feel of famine-ravaged Ireland, making it easy to believe that what we are watching is real. The acting helps us to suspend our disbelief, thanks to the accomplished performances of Pugh, Cassidy, and all of the surrounding players. Lelio’s direction does much to draw us into this strange tale too.
The eerie music score, with its whistles, howls, and ephemeral voices, creates a powerful impact on the viewer, and this combined with the dark visuals of Anna’s home, with its flickering candles and jumping shadows, adds to the haunting feel of the film. This isn’t to say the film borders on horror territory but there are dark themes beneath the surface that are gradually unveiled as Anna’s backstory is revealed. ..
The film is set in a time and place where people did cling to the idea of miracles to lift themselves from the despair caused by the recent famine. This isn’t only because of the technical prowess of the filmmakers and the accomplished acting, but also because the film is set in a time and place where people believed in miracles. ..
Netflix has just released the Wonder, a film that is highly recommended. It’s slow in parts, but if you are able to “believe in the story with complete devotion,” you will be rewarded with an expertly made film that will give you much food for thought long after the end credits have rolled.
In the end, the Wonder Woman story was a success. The film grossed over $1 billion worldwide and was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The Wonder Woman story has been praised for its strong female characters, its well-done action sequences, and its message of empowerment.
