The Wonder

The Wonder premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on 2 September 2022. It had a limited theatrical release on 2 November 2022 and streamed on Netflix on 16 November 2022. It received positive reviews from critics who praised the production design and cast performances, particularly Pugh’s.

The trauma of the Great Famine still looms over the community, and many locals are wary of the English nurse. Lib meets Anna’s deeply religious family: her mother Rosaleen, her father Malachy and her elder sister Kitty. At dinner, Lib learns that Anna’s elder brother died of an unknown illness. Anna herself appears in good health and says she has been kept alive by consuming “manna from Heaven”.

At her lodgings, Lib encounters William Byrne, a man who grew up locally and whose family perished in the Great Famine while he was away at boarding school. Now a journalist for the Daily Telegraph, William is reporting on the story – which he believes to be a hoax. Lib and William begin a relationship.

Lib’s observations initially reveal no evidence of deception. Anna prays many times a day and speaks of the fate of the damned in Hell. Lib, who is grieving the death of her only child, takes laudanum to help her sleep.

Noticing that her mother kisses Anna goodnight on her mouth while cupping her face, Lib deduces that chewed food is being covertly passed to Anna. She forbids the family from touching her. Anna does not deny that this is her “manna”, and she discloses to Lib the reasons for her fast: her elder brother had repeatedly raped her, and she attributes his death to God’s wrath. Anna believes that by her fasting and prayers she will free her brother’s soul.

Separated from her family’s touch, Anna’s condition worsens. William files a report to his paper in which he lays the blame for Anna’s expected death on her family and the community.

Lib informs the council of her findings, but they refuse to believe her. Sister Michael states that she has found no evidence of Rosaleen feeding Anna. Members of the council question Anna, but she repeats that she is sustained solely by “manna from Heaven”.

Knowing that Anna will inevitably die unless she eats soon, Lib pleads with the family to take action, or at least for her mother to resume the kisses. Rosaleen refuses, saying that after Anna’s sacred death, both her children will be in heaven. Lib persuades William to assist with a rescue plan.

While the family are at mass, Lib brings Anna, now near death, to a nearby holy clootie well. She tells her that although “Anna” will die, she will be reborn as a new girl named “Nan”. Anna closes her eyes and appears to die. When she revives, Lib is finally able to feed her. Lib returns to the house alone and sets it ablaze, at the same time deliberately destroying her laudanum bottle.

Lib tells the council that Anna died of natural causes, and that the fire was an accident. Concerned for their own possible culpability for Anna’s death, and the absence of a body within the charred remains of the house, they terminate her employment without pay. Sister Michael tells Lib that, after leaving mass early, she saw a vision of Anna and an angel leaving the area on horseback. She asks Lib to promise that Anna has gone to a better place, which Lib does.

In Dublin, Lib reunites with William and Nan, who has recovered her health. The three pose as a family named Cheshire and set sail for Sydney.