Wonder
2017 · Directed by Stephen Chbosky
Original language: English
- family
- drama
The story
The story of August Pullman – a boy with facial differences – who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.
What it’s like
Warm, sunlit suburban interiors with soft golden-hour glow spilling across kitchen tables, school hallways washed in bright fluorescent cheer, and a gentle, unhurried camera that lingers on faces more often than it cuts. The palette leans toward cozy earth tones and cheerful primary accents in children's clothing and classrooms, with an old-fashioned, polished digital sheen rather than grit. Music is a warm, orchestral score that swells softly at tender moments and steps back for quiet dialogue, so the sound feels comforting rather than tense. The pacing is steady and episodic, shifting between home, school, and small summer adventures, with several sections told from other characters' points of view that give the film a patient, layered rhythm. Its emotional register is hopeful and tender, with sharp stings of cruelty from schoolyard bullying that land as painful but never lingering. Intensity is low: no violence beyond a brief fight, no gore, no sexual content, and the bullying is emotionally hard rather than graphic. Good for a comfort watch, a family evening, or anyone wanting a kind story about kindness, courage, and being seen. Best for viewers who want something emotionally sincere and uplifting.
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