Nurse Elizabeth Wright (Florence Pugh) has been offered a job in Ireland to act as one half of a watch on a young girl who claims she no longer needs to eat as she is sustained by the Lord. Young Anna (Kila Lord Cassidy) has not eaten for four months as she believes that she is able to survive on manna from heaven. 

The Wonder is a unique film in both its framing and its genre. It opens on a modern soundstage where Anna’s older sister Kitty (Niamh Algar) acts as our narrator. She tells us the importance of stories and how they as actors intend to immerse themselves in the story to tell us in the best way possible. The film itself acts as a mystery in the question of how Anna is able to survive, a love story in regard to the maternal relationship that builds between Elizabeth and Anna and also a statement on the power of stories and depending on which ones you believe how they can free or cage you. 

Set in 1862 and filmed on location in Ireland the film looks the part. Set in a remote part of Ireland with fields all around in a village where everyone knows each other a group of men have self appointed themselves the arbiters of how best to deal with Anna. When the group meet officially it’s very interesting that they appear to be lined up in order of how fervent they are in the idea that this is indeed a miracle. Their number include a doctor who believes he may have stumbled on the fountain of youth (Toby Jones) and a priest who wants this to be a miracle in his small village (Ciaran Hinds). Whilst only one of their number seems to have any real regard for the welfare of Anna. 

As we begin to understand Elizabeth, a nurse who has served in the Crimea we also get to see her relationship with Anna and a newspaperman named Will Byrne (Tom Burke) develop. Florence Pugh, who at this point has clearly cemented herself as one of the greats of this acting generation is perfect once again. Creating a character whom we root for and understand implicitly. 

The story revelations that are drip fed to us throughout feel completely earned, believable and truly satisfying. With an ending that makes you think about everything that you have just witnessed and the power of stories. 

A real treat of a film.