The Wonders [DVD]

Loved this. If you are after thrills or intense drama, then skip this one. If you are a fan of world cinema you will find this a gem, with its attention to character, dreamlike quality, colour temperature (check out the washed out buildings of daylight and the dark rich colours of night) and great cinematography; the imagery of Gelsomina stomping bees off a tree branch lets you marvel at cinema once again. There is an authenticity to the family and their rural home that never fails to convince - the cues are subtle but essential...a younger daughter tells her father that she can't help with the beehives because she has a hole in her mask. Gelsomina reassures her and tells her she doesn't need to help in order to comfort her, then turns to her father and tells him there's no hole in the mask to confide in him, only for her father to say to Gelsomina that it doesn't matter because it's best with just him and Gelsomina. In a few seconds, a complete hierarchy and relationship set has been established. Together with the mix of German and Italian language and understated, yet beautiful, landscapes, this is something I enjoyed every minute of.

‘The Wonders’ is as wondrous as a daydream and sweet like honey, but with a sting or two to make it even sweeter. Yet, it is also very real, having been derived from the childhood memories of the writer - director Alice Rohrwacher, who aptly approaches the film in a dreamlike perspective of a child. Apart from the opening and closing sequences, which are both visually innovative, the movie is remarkably restrained so as not to disrupt that lyrical rhythm, even the saddest scenes carrying a sense of droll playfulness. Consequently, there is nothing particularly special about any single element of the film, but it is the whole experience that is truly memorable, for it should evoke fond memories of anyone’s childhood.Impeccable performances, astonishing in the case of the children, render this odd family instantly relatable and alluring. Though Wolfgang, the overbearing dad, is exasperating to begin with, it doesn't take long before what drives him becomes clear. He is just trying to protect the pastoral utopia, that the family has created as a vestige of the 60’s, nonconformist rebellion, against a tidal wave of global capitalism sweeping the world around his decaying dream. It is a subtle yet meaningful subtext that makes the story even more poignant. I didn't want ’The Wonders’ to end, because it was much like revisiting my own childhood, with all the challenges and pleasures of rural life. It will always remain in my memory as a warm glow.

this chaotic families hard traditional lifestyle drives a work ethic where children are the mainstay of the economy of the group and the father is a troubled difficult man , it is like real life and brilliantly filmed to touch you with the intelligence and humanity children can show in such extremist existenceBrilliant , dont miss it

Nice enough story but,for me,spoilt by the television show sequences which are totally over the top.Not a DVD I will keep.

This was a poor portrayal of beekeeping and it seemed like it was using beekeeping as a trendy hook. The dysfunctional family was depressing because there was no character development at all. I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone.

fairly average...but worth a watch..

Disappointing after the description and glowing reviews. It's ending is obscure, leaves too many unanswered questions, such as what happened to the boy.

had fault in picture had to return it