Netflix is frequently criticized for the poor the quality and originality of their content. The prodigy, which is titled by the name in English by the title The Wonder, is the one exception to this principle. This is an extraordinary film by Sebastian Lelio starring an excellent Florence Pugh, who goes far and wide to create a drama set in the countryside that is hard to comprehend even as it is comforting and takes us to a turbulent time stricken with a myriad of beliefs and conflict between the nascent and ever-growing faith and science. In Vandal we were able to watch it ahead of time and will share with our thoughts on it in our review, without spoilers.
A story that is successful about religion, the spirit, science and the ongoing battle against fanaticism.
With the previously mentioned Pugh who this year released the highly talked about Don’t be worried dear- is based on the novel written of Emma Donoghue (author of The Room) It is the tale about Anna O’Donnell (impressive Kila Lord Cassidy) she is an Irish girl who’s Catholic family claims she’s been eating nothing since her 11th birthday which was two months earlier. The nurse Lib Wright (incarnated by Pugh) is sent to the scene and be urged to look into the situation of this tiny girl who claims she feeds solely on manna snatched from heaven. Lelio director Lelio the films A Fantastic Woman, Disobedience or Gloria and Gloria, has again crafted a film that is a cross between a thriller set in the countryside and a theological drama using ingredients that are cleverly interspersed throughout its length. The film, which is a cinematographic stew with a blend of traditional and sober ingredients, can enhance its story and characters with circumstances that have a distinct tendency to contrast.
in El prodigio there are characters who stick to their beliefs and dedication to God however, others take a different path and examine the religious beliefs which seem to reorient an isolated town that has begun to look at the story of the young girl O’Donnells as a miraculous event that they can profit from. The most fascinating aspects of the story of Lelio is the capacity his role as a director to make the viewer be able to totally dissociate himself from the story and become involved as a person trapped in this remote but poor Irish community, and discerning many of the scenes when confronted with a miraculous event or the truth.
Contrary to what some believe the film Prodigy isn’t a savage or defiant critique of religion. It is it is the reverse in reaching out and constructing bridges to meet the needs of spirituality in difficult times. However the film demonstrates, and this is more apparent through the movie than the novel itself, is the desire to inspire intellectual battle against mysticism and obscurantism, urging to fight against rigid beliefs which are influenced by tradition and tradition. . The Prodigy follows The Prodigy, both Pugh and Tom Burke, who plays the character as journalist William Byrne, fight against different walls and impermanent places, trying to figure out the truth in a world filled with falsehoods and doubts buried under the veil of religious belief.
Yes, the original Donoghue story was powerful enough but Lelio along with Alice Birch’s version is based on concepts which resemble the structure of a play in its most formal form that is impactful and leaves the original literary theme. One could argue that it even glorifies him, displaying the less confusing and more concise narrative, that is easily digestible despite the speed at the way he reveals his credentials. Sure, The Prodigy is a rare breed in the age of cinematographic fast food and cassettes made with algorithms to be considered on the ever current streaming platforms, but the new Lelio is able to ignore with an eye on all the fashions that have occurred and will continue to be fortunate irony, on a platform like Netflix.
