Wonder
Director: Stephen Chbosky
Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts, Mandie Patinkin, Owen Wilson, Izabela Vidovic, Nadji Jener, Danielle Rose Russell, Noah Jupe, Elle McKinnon, Bryce Gheiser, Daveed Diggs, Millie Davis
Born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, and having undergone 20 plus surgeries for his facial deformities, August Pullman’s (Jacob Tremblay) life is changed forever when he enters the fifth grade. As his family, his new classmates, and the community all struggle to discover their compassion and acceptance, Auggie's extraordinary journey will unite them and prove you can't blend in when you were born to stand out.
Kindness is a powerful theme in this film, and nowhere is kindness illustrated more beautifully, than in the character of August Pullman, and the acts of kindness that are shown to this precious little boy by the people he encounters, as he grows up with Treacher Collins Syndrome.
On Auggie’s first day of fifth grade, his teacher, Mr. Browne (Daveed Diggs), gives his class the following precept, “When given the choice of being right or being kind…choose kind.” Auggie’s mother shows her son kindness when, after a humiliating day at school, she chooses to listen to her son, rather than scolding him for losing his temper. She tells Auggie that he is not ugly and because she is his Mom, her saying this means more…because she has known him the longest. She shows Auggie the scars and wrinkles on her own face and tells her son that everyone has marks on their face. Their hearts tell the story of where they are going, and the scars are just a story of where they have been. When Auggie learns that his father hid his special space helmet, he is initially terribly angry with his father for hiding the helmet, but even this was an act of kindness on his father’s part. Auggie’s father hid his helmet because Auggie was using the helmet not to be an astronaut, but to hide his face from the world. As a father, Nate loves his son very much and wants to see his face. As Auggie’s confidence grows, he no longer needs the helmet to protect him from the cruel words and rude stares. He can shine on his own, because he is a beautiful, brave, and incredibly wise little boy, who taught his whole community that true beauty lies not in your face, but in your heart.
Auggie’s sister, Via (Izabela Vidovic), shows a great act of love and kindness to her little brother. Although this was supposed to be Via’s special time spent with her mother alone, when she learns that Auggie was humiliated and insulted by Jack Will; Auggie’s only real friend at school…and on Halloween…the only day out of the year when Auggie feels like a normal kid…Via makes a very sweet and noble sacrifice for her little brother, when she chooses to go trick or treating with Auggie and cheer her brother up, rather than resent her brother’s intrusion and sulk and throw a tantrum that her brother’s bad day ruined her rare opportunity for Mommy/daughter time. She listens as her brother shares his story, and then reveals her own secret to him; that they are now each other’s best friend, because her best friend, Miranda, no longer wants her as a friend…and she offers to give Auggie all her Halloween candy (which, to a child is a very great sacrifice, indeed). She also shows kindness to her little brother when she tells Auggie that she wants him to come to see her perform in her play.
Jack Will shows his kindness to Auggie in two ways. At first, his kindness and friendship towards Auggie is shown only as a favor to his Mom and Principal Tushman (Mandie Patinkin), who asked Jack Will to be friends with Auggie. But when Jack learns what a cool little kid Auggie is, the two spark a genuine friendship. Their friendship is challenged when an unkind remark from Jack hurts Auggie’s feelings and causes Auggie to doubt his worth as a friend. Their friendship is healed when Jack Will chooses to remain with Auggie for the science project, rather than teaming up with Julian. Jack also defends Auggie, and even fights Julian, when he the other boy insults Auggie. I respect Jack Will’s character, because while he apologized for punching Julian, and admitted he was wrong, his reason for fighting was a noble one, and Mr. Tushman not only understood Jack’s reasons – even saying good friends are worth fighting for – he respected Jack Will for protecting Auggie. Jack Will’s kindness is shown again for Auggie when he comforts Auggie and hugs him when Auggie is crying on the beach. This moment is particularly significant for Auggie because it’s the first time that someone, apart from his family, has touched him in a way that is comforting and genuine, rather than cruel. Before this, he was teased and mocked by the other kids, who said they would get the plague if they touched Auggie.
Miranda’s act of kindness comes in two separate ways. Although she is Via’s friend, Miranda cares about Auggie. She bought Auggie his special astronaut helmet (because Auggie’s dream is to go to the stars), and she tells Auggie that he can always call her if he needs her…even when she and Via aren’t getting along. Her kindness towards her best friend, Via, is shown when she sees Via’s family in the audience on the opening night of their play. She has always regarded Via’s family as her own, and she chooses to let Via (who is her understudy) shine in this moment, rather than going onstage, herself. Miranda sacrificed her role, so that Via could perform for her family, as Emily, the main character in the play “Our Town.” Although she initially distances herself from Via, because Miranda’s father left, and her mother is lost in addiction, I think Miranda keeping this secret from her friend is really an act of kindness, itself, because she knew her friend couldn’t handle one more thing and she didn’t want to burden Via with her pain too.
Wonder is an emotionally-charged film that follows the journey of a ten year old boy, with a beautiful heart, who shows his family, his community and most importantly himself, that true beauty is found not on your face, but inside your heart. The casting for this movie is stellar, particularly for Jacob Tremblay who brings the character of Auggie to life and Julie Roberts who reminded me so much of my own Mom. Her protective motherlove, and wise counsel for her son very much reflected the love I felt when my parents or my sister was protecting me, as a child growing up with Aperts Syndrome. I would highly recommend this film.
© 2022 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Stephen Chbosky
Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts, Mandie Patinkin, Owen Wilson, Izabela Vidovic, Nadji Jener, Danielle Rose Russell, Noah Jupe, Elle McKinnon, Bryce Gheiser, Daveed Diggs, Millie Davis
Born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, and having undergone 20 plus surgeries for his facial deformities, August Pullman’s (Jacob Tremblay) life is changed forever when he enters the fifth grade. As his family, his new classmates, and the community all struggle to discover their compassion and acceptance, Auggie's extraordinary journey will unite them and prove you can't blend in when you were born to stand out.
Kindness is a powerful theme in this film, and nowhere is kindness illustrated more beautifully, than in the character of August Pullman, and the acts of kindness that are shown to this precious little boy by the people he encounters, as he grows up with Treacher Collins Syndrome.
On Auggie’s first day of fifth grade, his teacher, Mr. Browne (Daveed Diggs), gives his class the following precept, “When given the choice of being right or being kind…choose kind.” Auggie’s mother shows her son kindness when, after a humiliating day at school, she chooses to listen to her son, rather than scolding him for losing his temper. She tells Auggie that he is not ugly and because she is his Mom, her saying this means more…because she has known him the longest. She shows Auggie the scars and wrinkles on her own face and tells her son that everyone has marks on their face. Their hearts tell the story of where they are going, and the scars are just a story of where they have been. When Auggie learns that his father hid his special space helmet, he is initially terribly angry with his father for hiding the helmet, but even this was an act of kindness on his father’s part. Auggie’s father hid his helmet because Auggie was using the helmet not to be an astronaut, but to hide his face from the world. As a father, Nate loves his son very much and wants to see his face. As Auggie’s confidence grows, he no longer needs the helmet to protect him from the cruel words and rude stares. He can shine on his own, because he is a beautiful, brave, and incredibly wise little boy, who taught his whole community that true beauty lies not in your face, but in your heart.
Auggie’s sister, Via (Izabela Vidovic), shows a great act of love and kindness to her little brother. Although this was supposed to be Via’s special time spent with her mother alone, when she learns that Auggie was humiliated and insulted by Jack Will; Auggie’s only real friend at school…and on Halloween…the only day out of the year when Auggie feels like a normal kid…Via makes a very sweet and noble sacrifice for her little brother, when she chooses to go trick or treating with Auggie and cheer her brother up, rather than resent her brother’s intrusion and sulk and throw a tantrum that her brother’s bad day ruined her rare opportunity for Mommy/daughter time. She listens as her brother shares his story, and then reveals her own secret to him; that they are now each other’s best friend, because her best friend, Miranda, no longer wants her as a friend…and she offers to give Auggie all her Halloween candy (which, to a child is a very great sacrifice, indeed). She also shows kindness to her little brother when she tells Auggie that she wants him to come to see her perform in her play.
Jack Will shows his kindness to Auggie in two ways. At first, his kindness and friendship towards Auggie is shown only as a favor to his Mom and Principal Tushman (Mandie Patinkin), who asked Jack Will to be friends with Auggie. But when Jack learns what a cool little kid Auggie is, the two spark a genuine friendship. Their friendship is challenged when an unkind remark from Jack hurts Auggie’s feelings and causes Auggie to doubt his worth as a friend. Their friendship is healed when Jack Will chooses to remain with Auggie for the science project, rather than teaming up with Julian. Jack also defends Auggie, and even fights Julian, when he the other boy insults Auggie. I respect Jack Will’s character, because while he apologized for punching Julian, and admitted he was wrong, his reason for fighting was a noble one, and Mr. Tushman not only understood Jack’s reasons – even saying good friends are worth fighting for – he respected Jack Will for protecting Auggie. Jack Will’s kindness is shown again for Auggie when he comforts Auggie and hugs him when Auggie is crying on the beach. This moment is particularly significant for Auggie because it’s the first time that someone, apart from his family, has touched him in a way that is comforting and genuine, rather than cruel. Before this, he was teased and mocked by the other kids, who said they would get the plague if they touched Auggie.
Miranda’s act of kindness comes in two separate ways. Although she is Via’s friend, Miranda cares about Auggie. She bought Auggie his special astronaut helmet (because Auggie’s dream is to go to the stars), and she tells Auggie that he can always call her if he needs her…even when she and Via aren’t getting along. Her kindness towards her best friend, Via, is shown when she sees Via’s family in the audience on the opening night of their play. She has always regarded Via’s family as her own, and she chooses to let Via (who is her understudy) shine in this moment, rather than going onstage, herself. Miranda sacrificed her role, so that Via could perform for her family, as Emily, the main character in the play “Our Town.” Although she initially distances herself from Via, because Miranda’s father left, and her mother is lost in addiction, I think Miranda keeping this secret from her friend is really an act of kindness, itself, because she knew her friend couldn’t handle one more thing and she didn’t want to burden Via with her pain too.
Wonder is an emotionally-charged film that follows the journey of a ten year old boy, with a beautiful heart, who shows his family, his community and most importantly himself, that true beauty is found not on your face, but inside your heart. The casting for this movie is stellar, particularly for Jacob Tremblay who brings the character of Auggie to life and Julie Roberts who reminded me so much of my own Mom. Her protective motherlove, and wise counsel for her son very much reflected the love I felt when my parents or my sister was protecting me, as a child growing up with Aperts Syndrome. I would highly recommend this film.
© 2022 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.