The Wonder (2022) is a haunting and thought-provoking psychological drama set in 19th-century Ireland, directed by Sebastián Lelio and based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Emma Donoghue. With a screenplay written by Donoghue, Lelio, and Alice Birch, the film explores themes of belief, faith, and the boundaries between fact and fiction, all set against the backdrop of a deeply religious society. The film features powerful performances, particularly by Florence Pugh, and provides an unsettling examination of human nature, superstition, and the lengths to which people will go to protect the truths they hold dear.

The story takes place in 1862, a time when the country was recovering from the effects of famine and social unrest. It follows an English nurse named Lib Wright (played by Florence Pugh), who is hired to observe an 11-year-old girl, Anna O’Donnell (Kila Lord Cassidy), living in a remote village. Anna claims to have not eaten for months, yet she is miraculously healthy. The community views her as a “fasting girl” and a religious phenomenon, attributing her survival to divine intervention. Lib, however, is skeptical and is assigned the task of watching over Anna to determine if the girl’s condition is truly miraculous or if it is a case of deception, starvation, or something darker.