Small Things Like These proves Cillian Murphy's star quality in a morality tale that questions our bravery against institutional injustice.
In his first leading role post-Oscar and Oppenheimer success, the Irish actor once again confirms his dependability at driving a drama, this time tackling the still-painful truth of Ireland's Magdalene Laundries.
The topic of these 'tarnished' women – most often girls – and their treatment at the hands of the Catholic Church is delicately handled in director Tim Mielants' storytelling, which is minimal in style but maximum in effect.
It's an incredibly faithful adaptation of Claire Keegan's 128-page short story, where Murphy plays Bill Furlong, a local coal merchant and father of five daughters who notices the strange comings and goings of girls at the convent close to his yard.
Set in a small Irish village in the 1980s, during a busy festive period for Bill, we see this passive protagonist struggle after stumbling upon one particularly disheveled girl who reminds him of a late loved one. Should he (we?) rock the equilibrium regardless of the consequences?
Reminding him of his place and duties is Catastrophe's Eileen Walsh who gives a steady, serious turn as Bill's wife Eileen. "If you want to get on in this life, there are things you have to ignore,” she tells her husband.
What to Read Next
She's a little too preoccupied with the traditions and trappings of upholding a proper reputation and doesn't exactly hide her desires for the family to have more.
Bill, by contrast, has little materialistic motivation and endeavours to give back where he can on account of his own upbringing. In flashbacks, we learn that young Bill was raised through an employer's generosity, living with his mother, an unmarried maid, at Mrs Wilson's house. She's a wealthy widow, played by Michelle Fairley, who takes a shine to the meek-mannered boy.
Of the supporting cast, though, it's Emily Watson who gives chills with her performance as Sister Mary.
After Bill discovers the girl, he is ushered into the superior's office for a casual chat over a cup of tea that feels a lot like pulling teeth. In the charged scene, Watson is formidable and masterfully manipulative, her stony face offset with a shine in her eyes as she sends Bill off with a Christmas card (that carries conditions).
Murphy plays Bill with a sympathetic weariness that one initially attributes to the tough physicality of his work, but later identifies as his inner mental turmoil. His childhood trauma comes back with full force after the incident with the girl, evident through facial close-ups and several hand-scrubbing sequences that border on self-harming.
While some may find it a touch slow, it's Small Things Like These's subtle, show-not-tell storytelling that delivers the drama's emotional blow. A lot is unspoken (much like when the Laundries operated at the time) but the abrupt ending offers some – perhaps uncertain – hope for the future.
Small Things Like These is out now in UK cinemas.
You Might Like...
Emily is an experienced freelance entertainment writer and editor, reporting on all things TV, film, soaps and showbiz. An NCTJ-qualified journalist, with a First Class Honours degree in Journalism from the University of Sussex, Emily is a former Deputy News Editor and Evening News Editor at Digital Spy. She has previously worked at Hello magazine, BBC South News and GoodtoKnow.
A small and big-screen obsessive – with subscriptions to every TV and film service under the sun – Emily knows her movie stars from soap stars, and is always clued up on the latest reality show dumping, just-dropped trailer or off-screen spat. She's interviewed a number of celebrities over the years, with highlights including The Masked Singer host Joel Dommett and GMB's Kate Garraway (who "loved" her trousers).
Emily counts Sharon Horgan and Julia Davis as her TV heroes, and is a loyal Wes Anderson fan. LinkedIn
