'Small Things Like These' review: Cillian Murphy anchors a fine Irish drama

Courtesy of Lionsgate

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In his first role since winning an Oscar for “Oppenheimer,” Cillian Murphy steps into a quieter, more restrained character in “Small Things Like These,” a film that resists flashy theatrics or pulsing scores. Instead, this is a subtle Irish drama that showcases Murphy's strong performance as Bill Furlong, a man navigating a story built more on atmosphere and one very compelling scene than on sustained tension. There is a noticeable distance between the narrative and what’s happening on-screen, but the film still leaves viewers with a valuable lesson about caring for one's neighbors and extending an olive branch to those in need.

The film offers a poignant message, but it also struggles with pacing, as only about 20 minutes of the story are driven by solid tension and intrigue. The rest of the film consists of long shots of Murphy walking down side streets, driving his truck, or sitting in his living room, contemplating the hand life has dealt him. Based on the 2020 novel by Claire Keegan, “Small Things Like These” shines a light on Magdalene laundries, which were established in the 18th century to provide shelter and support for pregnant girls and women with nowhere else to turn. These facilities, often run by convents, were originally intended to help, but in practice, they operated as a form of forced labor, trapping women in abusive conditions.

However, the film does not delve deeply into the harsh realities of these laundries. Instead, it focuses on Bill, whose struggling coal supply business puts him at odds with his local convent. One day, while making a delivery, he discovers a young girl locked in a shed outside in the dead of winter, sparking the film's most compelling sequence: a tense stand-off between Bill and Mother Superior (Emily Watson).

In this scene, Bill confronts the moral dilemma of whether to speak out about the girl’s plight or stay silent for the sake of his livelihood. Mother Superior’s offer of bribery and threats underlines the power dynamics at play in the small, tight-knit community where Bill is trying to maintain financial stability. This stand-off is the film’s highlight, but it’s just one sequence in a movie that could have benefited from more narrative momentum.

Director Tim Mielants skillfully captures the bleak beauty of the Irish countryside and allows Emily Watson to revel in her role as the imposing Mother Superior, but the film ultimately doesn't do enough to explore the broader issue of abuse within these institutions. Audiences expecting a deeper exploration of the plight of young women trapped in these laundries may find themselves disappointed by the film’s relatively restrained approach.

While “Small Things Like These” delivers an

important message, its impact might have been stronger had the film pushed further in its examination of the systemic abuses it touches on. It's a quietly moving film, but one that leaves you wishing it had dug a little deeper.

Grade: B-

SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE opens in theaters Friday, November 8th.