The Wonder (2022)

	Directed by: Sebastián Lelio	COUNTRY Ireland/UK/USA GENRE Psychological drama NORWEGIAN TITLE The Wonder RUNNING TIME 103 minutes
	Produced by: Ed Guiney Tessa Ross Andrew Lowe Juliette Howell
	Written by (based on the novel by Emma Donoghue): Emma Donoghue Sebastián Lelio Alice Birch

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Elizabeth "Lib" Wright	Florence Pugh
Anna O'Donnell / Nan	Kíla Lord Cassidy	½
William Byrne	Tom Burke
Kitty O'Donnell / The Narrator	Niamh Algar	-
Rosaleen O'Donnell	Elaine Cassidy	-
Malachy O'Donnell	Caolán Byrne	-
Dr. McBrearty	Toby Jones	-
Father Thaddeus	Ciarán Hinds	-
Sir Otway	Dermot Crowley	-

Review

A committed, immersive performance by young newcomer Kíla Lord Cassidy spearheads this period mystery set in rural Ireland in the 19th century, where an 11-year-old girl in a highly religious family has been fasting for four months – seemingly without any physical repercussions. Florence Pugh is the young nurse sent to observe the girl – and solve the puzzle for us, of course. Although Pugh's performance comes off as anachronistic at times and the film drags in an uneventful middle section which seems to have little other purpose than to fill out the running time, the mystery itself is clever and incorporates enough historical, religious and sociocultural aspects to make this weighty and effective. And whenever you start doubting the story's potential for veracity, Cassidy's authentic performance sucks you back into this bygone world of repressed guilt, shame and emotions.