Middle school is not a good time for anyone. It is the time of awkward moments, braces, and maybe a bad haircut or outfit choice here and there. But having a rare facial deformity is a completely different ball game--which is exactly the case for Auggie Pullman, the 10-year-old fifth grader who wears an astronaut helmet to hide his face, and titular character of the NY Times bestselling novel-turned-film "Wonder."
"Wonder," published in 2012 by author and mother R.J. Palacio, tells the story of Auggie’s treacherous odyssey through the judgemental hallways of his middle school in upper Manhattan. The film stars young actor Jacob Tremblay as Auggie and the infamous Owen Wilson and Julia Roberts as his parents.
What truly impressed me was the way that these actors stepped into character. At times, I forgot that I was watching the usually comical Owen Wilson, and the typically more glamorous romantic comedy star Julia Roberts, who both delivered groundbreaking performances that were the perfect blend of endearing, emotional, and an exhibition of tough love that parents deal with in their everyday lives (in this case amplified by their son’s condition).
Initially, I assumed that the film would simply tell yet another story about someone who felt “othered” by society, and was fighting to fit in. However, I was surprised and delighted by the alternation of different perspectives between the characters, and how each one of them processed the events of the story differently, and had their own separate storylines.
The point of view that was perhaps the most eye-opening was that of Via, Auggie’s teenage older sister. Via is depicted as being a background character for the beginning of the movie, and when she takes control of the story, she expresses exactly this concept--she has been in the background her whole life because of Auggie, but is not upset with him and understands that it is not his fault.
Via’s struggle with her own life’s issues is very compelling. Throughout her life she was taught to be a listener; to listen to Auggie’s struggles, and comfort him. As a result, she has become extremely timid and reserved as a teenager, and is devastated when her best friend suddenly stops talking to her (the reason for this being revealed to be based in her friend is dealing with her own share of familial struggles).
Then there is Jack Will--the only fifth grader who accepts Auggie as a friend after helping give him a tour of the school, who saves him from a wealthy bully named Julian. The two quickly bond and become best friends, or so it seems.
On Halloween, Auggie overhears Jack say that “He’d kill himself if he looked like Auggie.” Heartbroken, Auggie goes home and hides in his room on Halloween, only to be coaxed out by Via.
Little does the audience know, however, that Jack is dealing with the fact that he is not quite at the high level of wealth as his trust fund-wielding classmates and is at Beecher Prep on a scholarship, and felt the need to stick to the popular kids, despite his real friendship with Auggie that he regrets temporarily jeopardizing.
Eventually, the Pullman family’s dog, Daisy, grows old and sick, and needs to be put down. While all four members of the family are devastated, they all put on brave faces for Auggie’s sake, using the old tropes of simply saying that the dog was “old and in pain.” The scene then pans to Mr. Pullman sitting at the kitchen table at night, clutching his dog’s collar and crying over the lost bond he had with her.
The film proved to be multifaceted in its interpretation of Auggie’s disorder. Not only did it provide Auggie’s internal thoughts, but also the interactions that others had with him. Everyone in the movie wears a disguise at one point or another: Auggie wears his astronaut helmet until his father hides it.
Via wears her false ability to remain in the shadow of the family while her best friend, Miranda, dies her hair and changes up her style to mask the fact that she is only changing in an attempt to ignore her parents failed marriage and mother’s mounting alcoholism. Mr. Pullman wears his humor to act as the comic relief, when in reality he still has his fears, and last but not least is Mrs. Pullman, who has put her life on hold to care for Auggie, and is finally finishing her thesis that she was forced to abandon.
The movie proved that everyone in society wears a mask of some sort, no matter what their face looks like, in order to attempt to meet the expectations they feel they must live up to. In the end, if we all accept who we are and where we want to be, we can shed these masks and appreciate one another, and what we each have to offer. This concept is desperately needed in our world for people of all ages, despite what they may be going through.
