Small Things Like These Review

Small Things Like These is an adaptation of a novel by Claire Keegan and premiered at the 74^th Berlin International Film Festival.

Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy) is a coal merchant in New Ross, County Wexford. He’s the father to five daughters and is respected within the community. When Bill witnesses a young woman, Sarah (Zara Devlin), taken into the local convent, it awakens memories of his childhood and he’s put in a moral dilemma when he finds Sarah locked in a coal shed, but helping her could risk his daughters’ education.

Small Things Like These was produced by Murphy and Artists Equity, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s production company. Murphy was a fan of the novel and it was the first film he has worked on as a film producer. Small Things Like These was the first film to be released after Murphy’s Oscar win in Oppenheimer, which should give the film some extra attention.

Small Things Like These was an actor’s film. It was a slow and subdued film that was about subtle moments. It was introspective as Bill reflected on his life and shed manly tears as he suffered from an undisclosed depressive order. Murphy’s character was a softly spoken man who saw injustice around him, leading him to try and do the right thing. Bill could relate to the people who he helped, whether it was a boy walking on a country road, or a young pregnant woman who was taken to work in the laundry.

Small Things Like These was a film that was made of slow, meticulous takes which added to a sense of tension, especially when Bill enters the convent and speaks with the Mother Superior, Sister Mary (Emily Watson). Sister Mary made for an imposing villain since she commanded authority and was able to make subtle threats regarding his daughter’s schooling. Watson won the Best Supporting Performance at the Berlin International Film Festival, and it was deserved as she was able to assert power over anyone who might challenge and question her. Sister Mary was even able to use compassion and kindness as weapons to coerce and control those around her.

There have been a few films about the Magdalene Laundries. The Magdalene Sisters was about the horrors women sent to the Laundries experienced and showed that even a minor ‘infraction’ could get women sent away. Philomena was a personal story about a woman going to America and trying to find her son who was adopted. Small Things Like These offered an outsider’s perspective of the Laundries. Bill only saw a glimpse of the horror and fear the women in the Laundries endured but that was enough to make him act. The film showed how much power the Catholic Church had over the local community since they controlled the best schools and could ruin anyone’s reputation. Some characters even tried to justify the work of the nuns as a way to elevate their sense of guilt.

Small Things Like These was a short film, it has a run time of 97 minutes, but it felt longer. This was due to the slow pacing and the introspective story. It was about a man facing up to his past and the moral dilemma, so it was about small emotions and reactions. It was a slight film that required a lot of attention from the audience. Small Things Like These was a low-key film where there was no big build-up or conflict between Bill and the convent – it was played to be believably grounded.

One of the most shocking things in the film was the time period. These events were still happening in the 1980s and the note at the end of the film stated that the Magdalene Laundries only ended in 1998. This showed how much influence the church had on Ireland, and it has only waned in recent memory.

Small Things Like These was a well-acted film that had some great talent working in front of and behind the camera. The film did explore some big topics, but it was one to admire rather than enjoy.