They play out in the experiences of the movie's main character, August “Auggie” Pullman, a 10-year-old boy born with a facial difference he refers to as mandibulofacial dystosis, more commonly known as Treacher Collins syndrome. It is a genetic disorder that most often affects the cheek bones, jaw, chin, and ears.
Entering middle school as the new kid is hard, but for Auggie Pullman, the main character in the best-selling middle grade novel Wonder by R.J. Palacio, it's downright terrifying. Auggie has Treacher Collins syndrome, a rare craniofacial disorder that causes major malformations of the face.
After her book was published in 2012, Palacio specified that Auggie has a severe form of a genetic condition called Treacher Collins syndrome. Even though Palacio didn't base Auggie off of someone she knew personally, she learned a great deal about what might cause Auggie's facial differences.
Wonder (2017) - Two Things About Yourself Scene (2/9) | Movieclips
Does Auggie have Down syndrome?
One of the most insightful things about the movie was the intimate look it gave into the day-to-day struggles of living with a craniofacial condition. Auggie not only lives with Treacher Collins syndrome, but he also was born with a cleft lip and palate.
In the movie “Wonder,” what type of birth defect did Auggie have? Mark Urata, MD, DDS: While there is no specific diagnosis discussed, the features of the main character, Auggie, are consistent with Treacher Collins Syndrome.
Here Auggie, who's seen in Palacio's stylized art as having just one eye, like on the cover of “Wonder,” tells readers how it feels to be treated badly because he looks different.
R.J. Palacio's 2012 book, "Wonder," tells the story of 10-year-old Auggie Pullman, a fictional boy with facial differences, and his experiences in everyday life dealing with the condition. The book was inspired by a real-life encounter Palacio had with a child who had a craniofacial disorder.
Auggie has been homeschooled by his mother all his life because he was born with severe facial abnormalities, which required 27 surgeries. Despite the countless surgeries, Auggie still lives with facial disfigurement.
Since birth, he's had 27 surgeries, but his face still looks like it has “been melted, like the drippings on a candle.” Now his parents have decided (not without reservations) that it's time for Auggie to meet the wider world, enrolling him in a private school for fifth grade.
Today, I am here to discuss the 2017 movie Wonder, Treacher Collins syndrome, and a boy named Nathaniel Newman. Photographed here is Nathaniel Newman (right), who was featured in the 20/20 special “Wonder Boy”. Next to him is actor Jacob Tremblay (left), who portrayed the character 'Auggie' in the 2017 movie 'Wonder'.
It's the first time "Auggie" has been to school outside of the home. He was born with Treacher Collins syndrome, which required dozens of surgeries during his first decade of life.
Wonder tells the story of Auggie Pullman, a fictional 10-year-old boy with a severe case of Treacher Collins syndrome — a rare genetic craniofacial disorder.
A clear visual motif in this movie is Auggie's astronaut helmet. It has many meanings for Auggie, but the main purpose of it is to help him cope with being different. Auggie's helmet acts as a way to experience the world without actually living in it.
Throughout most of the book, Auggie's best friend is Jack Will. Jack was asked by the school principal to show Auggie around at the beginning of the year. At first, he was hesitant to do this, but he and Auggie end up becoming very loyal to each other.
But for every positive, there is a negative: Jack betrays him, a gang of kids try to hurt him, and some particularly insensitive parents even try to have him removed from the school. Yet, Auggie shows amazing understanding and compassion.
Plot. August "Auggie" Pullman is a 10-year old boy living in Brooklyn with his mother, Isabel, father, Nate, older sister, Via, and their dog, Daisy. He was born with a rare medical facial deformity, mandibulofacial dysostosis, and has undergone 27 surgeries in order to see, smell, speak and hear.
Auggie cuts off his braid. Dad asks about his first day of school, and Mom reads to him some of The Hobbit. Suddenly, Auggie cries, asking, “Why am I so ugly?” and Mom soothes him. The month of September is challenging to Auggie as more kids see him for the first time and he gets used to homework and quizzes.
Why does Auggie cry when he's with his mom? As she is reading a story to him, he begins crying and asks his mom why he is ugly. She replies saying that he is not ugly, and kisses his face, but he feels that even though she says he is not ugly, that doesn't change his face (60).
Auggie has an older sister, Olivia "Via" Pullman, who is entering her first year of high school. Before the start of the school year, Auggie's mother takes him to meet the principal, Mr. Tushman, who has asked three other students — Jack Will, Charlotte, and Julian — to take him on a tour of the school.
August ("Auggie") Pullman (Jacob Tremblay) is 10 years old, a precocious little boy who lives in Brooklyn with his parents, older sister Olivia ("Via") (Izabela Vidovic), and dog Daisy.
While “Wonder” isn't based on real people, its author R.J. Palacio says she was inspired to write it by a chance encounter she had with a young girl while she was at an ice cream shop with her two sons.
