The Wonder Ending Explained, The Wonder Ending Explained In Out
by Rubaditsha | Updated Feb 23, 2023
The Wonder Overview
Sebastián Lelio's movie The Wonder, starring Florence Pugh, was released on Netflix in 2022. Set in 1862 in Northern Ireland, the film follows nurse Lib Wright, played by Pugh, who travels to a small town to observe a young girl named Anna O'Donnell, portrayed by Kíla Lord Cassidy, who is believed to have not eaten anything in months. Alongside a nun, Lib is assigned to watch over Anna to confirm if a miracle is taking place. Throughout the story, Lib becomes attached to Anna, who becomes increasingly weak from lack of sustenance, and forms a bond with a skeptical reporter named Will Byrne. The movie explores themes of conflict between science and religion, faith versus science, and nationalism versus magical thinking, which the director believes are still relevant today. Despite being a period drama, the movie uses a surprising framing device that prompts viewers to reflect on its meaning.
The Wonder Ending Explained
After isolating Anna from her family, Lib realizes that the little girl is surviving on pre-chewed food that her mother passes to her through kisses. Anna had been convinced to participate in a religious fast by her mother, who held her responsible for her sexually abusive brother's death. Anna believed that sacrificing her own life through fasting could save her brother from eternal damnation. When Lib warns the council overseeing her nursing watch that Anna is dying, they refuse to intervene. To save Anna, Lib develops a plan with her journalist lover William to fake Anna's death. They give her opioid-laced milk and take her to hide by a secret lake while Lib burns down Anna's home, injuring herself to make the story more believable. After telling the council that Anna has died, Lib meets up with Will and Anna, who now goes by the name Nan. In the final scene, they are on a ship bound for Australia, and Anna is apprehensively eating. The film's set is shown, and the actress who played Kitty says, "In. Out. In. Out." The director explained that this final shot conveys how the story's power dynamics are still resonant in modern times.
What Happens at the End of The Wonder?
Towards the end of The Wonder, Anna's condition deteriorates significantly to the point where her death is imminent. She experiences teeth loss, persistent vomiting of bile, and struggles to stay alert. Lib tries in vain to convince Anna's parents and the people in charge of the watch to allow her to eat, but they remain adamant that Anna's fasting is necessary for a miracle. Lib finally resorts to suggesting to Anna that she should pass away and be reborn as "Nan," who can eat and live a full life. Anna agrees to the idea.
Due to Lib's growing attachment to Anna during her nursing, she takes it upon herself to rescue Anna from the dire situation. She and Will devise a plan to take Anna to England. Lib carries Anna out of the house, feeds her a small amount of food, and then sets the house on fire. Unfortunately, Lib gets caught up in the flames and sustains severe burns. The fate of Anna is left unknown, as we next see Lib in Dublin, where she reunites with Will and Anna before departing for England.
The Ending of Netflix's The Wonder
The Wonder is Netflix's newest period drama, starring Florence Pugh as Lib Wright, a Nightingale Nurse from England who is asked to observe a young girl named Anna in a poor, religious community in Ireland. The movie is loosely inspired by the Great Famine of Ireland, and the book of the same name by Emma Donoghue. Anna claims to survive on "manna from heaven," and Nurse Lib attempts to make sense of this medical marvel, all while trying to determine who to trust in the town.
Directed by Sebastián Lelio, the film takes an innovative approach, starting with a fourth-wall-breaking scene where actress Niamh Algar, who plays Anna's older sister Kitty, introduces the film and invites viewers to believe in the story. Lelio says this framing device is important because it reminds viewers of the power of fiction and challenges them to consider their own beliefs.
The film deals with themes of reason versus magical thinking, science versus extreme religiousness, and spiritual and intellectual elasticity versus fanaticism. The ending of the film sees Lib deciding to take Anna away to England after she becomes too malnourished to survive in Ireland. Lib gives Anna a small portion of food and then sets the house on fire. While it's unclear what happens to Anna, Lib is seen reuniting with Will and Anna in Dublin before setting off for England.
The Wonder Ending Explained: FAQs
The Wonder is a period drama film set in 1862 in Northern Ireland. The story follows nurse Lib Wright as she is assigned to watch over a young girl named Anna O'Donnell, who is believed to have not eaten anything in months. Alongside a nun, Lib is tasked to confirm if a miracle is taking place. The movie explores themes of conflict between science and religion, faith versus science, and nationalism versus magical thinking.
Florence Pugh stars as nurse Lib Wright, and Kíla Lord Cassidy portrays Anna O'Donnell. The film is directed by Sebastián Lelio.
Towards the end of the movie, Anna's condition deteriorates significantly to the point where her death is imminent. Lib takes it upon herself to rescue Anna from the dire situation and, along with her journalist lover William, devises a plan to take Anna to England. Lib carries Anna out of the house, feeds her a small amount of food, and then sets the house on fire. Unfortunately, Lib gets caught up in the flames and sustains severe burns. The fate of Anna is left unknown, but in the final scene, Lib reunites with Anna, now going by the name Nan, and Will on a ship bound for Australia.
The movie explores themes of conflict between science and religion, faith versus science, and nationalism versus magical thinking. It also deals with themes of reason versus magical thinking, science versus extreme religiousness, and spiritual and intellectual elasticity versus fanaticism.
The movie uses a surprising framing device at the beginning, with actress Niamh Algar, who plays Anna's older sister Kitty, introducing the film and inviting viewers to believe in the story. According to the director, this framing device is important because it reminds viewers of the power of fiction and challenges them to consider their own beliefs.