I loved the fact that a little child who was “disfigured” and weak since birth was able to elicit so much goodness in the movie Wonder. For those of you who haven’t watched the film, it is a positive slice of life where Auggie, a 9-year-old adjusts to entering school for the first time after being homeschooled all his life by his doting parents. We also see a glimpse of the lives of the other characters that orbit around the sun that is Auggie, his sister, his friends and the hows and why’s that made them so.
My main concern is that Auggie himself isn’t exactly “wonderful.” At the first sign of meanness from one of the school kids, Auggie responds to his teasing by correcting the child, setting off a hatred for him. When kids stopped laughing at them, the movie edit made it look like the regular kids were being laughed at, and Auggie was pleased with this. Also, Auggie never really went out of his way greatly for anyone else, and when he was at home: he acted like such a brat to his parents and sister, screaming and yelling. This is not exactly wonderful.
If goodness really were inculcated into him, the moment that they laughed at those other kids, he would have said: “Hey guys, I know what that feels like. It’s not cool,” or something like that. Also, everyone knows that correcting someone or repaying an insult for an insult is nothing wonderful.
What is wonderful is that if they insulted him, he gave compliments and kindness in return. Still, it showed that when he insulted them back he gained respect, which still reinforces a culture where the “baddest” or “meanest” rule.
That is exactly what is wrong with American youth culture. At least this was addressed by the other characters that are the real “wonder” of the film.
First, his friend, Jack Will, eventually stood up for him. More than this, when questioned about it, Jack Will could have easily have tattled on the antagonist bully Julian. Instead, he honorably kept his mouth shut, and let the cards fall as they may. Then, there was Summer who, at the lowest point of Auggie’s social life, chose to stay with him because she was tired of her mean friends and wanted someone nice. (Even if Auggie’s nice-ness wasn’t really established apart from the fact that he was the underdog.)
Auggie’s sister, Via, who despite being ignored all the time for Auggie’s sake, still chooses to love, support and sacrifice for him, is one of the wonders in this film. It is a stark greatness that when she was most rejected by her mother, she chose to go the extra mile and reach out lovingly to her brother. That is wonderful.
For me the true wonder of this film was the principal, Mr. Tushman. He was first wise enough to assign Auggie welcome helpers, and when he did not turn a blind eye to the bullying but instead researched about it and sanctioned it. In the scene where Julian’s parents were trying to downplay the issue and the father tried to coerce or influence him by reminding him how much money they give to the board, it was clear that it was a threat to Mr. Tushman’s job. The father asked, “Do you know how much money we give the board?” He responded to that remark like a champion, saying, “I have more money.” That ended the bribe and threat right there and then with that flash of righteousness and courage. What is more, he chose to give the final award to Auggie, which, more than recognizing Auggie, was a symbol for the students that a weak or physically disabled person can be honored in their school. Auggie was just the vessel or the medium through which the beauty and goodness of the hearts around him could change.
Here are my personal takeaways from this wonderful film:
1. It is noblest to love when you are hurting the most.
This is what Olivia showed. It’s easy to give when you are rich, but to give when you have little is a true test. It’s easy to be kind when you’re in a good mood, but to be kind when you’re sad and or angry at someone whom you don’t like—that is a true test. The wonder is that we are capable of giving love even in our worst state, and this is the channel from which more blessings can come.
2. Doing the right thing comes with doing it for the right reason.
Jack Will was trying to be convinced by his mother to be nice to Auggie because his school gave him a scholarship, but he did it because of his mom, and because he imagined how it was to feel like if others were unkind to him. He felt empathy and a sort of joining with Auggie, and this was the right reason to start it. It was tested by his friends egging him to hate Auggie like they did, and he did buckle for a bit, but eventually he knew the right thing and decided to stand for it. When your “why” is aligned with action, you can be very powerful indeed. Then he could make amends and be true to his right reason. True wonder is acting in authenticity to goodness and your personal convictions regardless of what others may think.
3. Helping someone sometimes means helping someone again and again, and again.
The principal could have stopped at getting Auggie the welcome friends. He could have made sure that the kid was sanctioned, but he didn’t. He took it upon himself to create something good for Auggie in his school. He used his power to watch and guard lovingly so that he could make sure that Auggie was developing the right way. This is how I view God, but we can be this kind of friend to people. Sometimes, it’s not enough to ask someone if they’re fine and stop when they say, “okay.” Sometimes, if people keep making the same mistakes, we just have to keep forgiving them and guiding them. True wonder is making sure that the person is happier, and better because of you.
4. Choosing to love is sacrificing and happily so.
When Auggie’s mom had Auggie, she gave up many things for him: her thesis, work and all that. She made the move to get what she wants but she never once regretted it, harped about it, or made a fuss. It was her choice to give it up and it was borne out of love. Sometimes, when we outwardly sacrifice and it isn’t a full commitment, it can come with jibes, sarcasm and passive-aggressive strokes. However, if your love is real and your motivation clear, you give freely without cost and without hate. True wonder is a happy sacrifice for the ones you love.
These are truly wonderful things, and I hope you can keep them close to your heart even as I totally spoiled the movie for you. You can still enjoy it and let me know if you have a different opinion at maxine.mamba@yahoo.com.
1 comment
Correction: The father of Julian “the bully,” said, “I have friends on the board,” to which Mr. Tushman replied, “I have more.”
I’m glad someone else noticed how not-so-wonderful Auggie was. I felt Jack should have received that award.