A growing sense of wonderment

Chbosky shows his personal affinity for the film's title because of the word's double meaning.

"'Wonder' can mean a sense of amazement about the miracles that are all around us. It can also mean to be curious about something, or perhaps somebody," the director says while promoting the film in Beijing. "The two meanings actually match with each other."

Chbosky says he chose to shoot the movie because of his love for the book, and the fact he could relate to so many things that happened in it on a personal level.

"I've actually been betrayed by friendships. And sometimes I have not been the best of friends myself. I can relate to every aspect of the book, every character."

Other than the main storyline that tells how Auggie manages to conquer his difficulties, the film also shows how strong and selfless friendships and families can be by telling the story from the perspective of different characters.

Split into sections, the film is shot from a variety of viewpoints, showing the personal experiences of the characters other than the protagonist, including Auggie's friends, his sister Via and Via's best friend.

And by doing so, Chbosky tries to encourage the viewer to understand events from different characters' viewpoints, rather than face the challenges silently and risk estrangement.

"The more we can communicate, the closer we're likely to be."