Small Things Like These is a 2024 Irish drama film directed by Tim Mielants and written by Enda Walsh, based on the novella by Claire Keegan. The film stars Cillian Murphy as Bill Furlong, a coal merchant in 1985 Ireland who uncovers disturbing secrets at a local convent, leading him to confront his own past and the community’s complicity in systemic abuse.

Plot Overview

Set during Christmas in 1985, the story follows Bill Furlong, a devoted father and coal merchant in the Irish town of New Ross. While making deliveries, Bill discovers a teenage girl, Sarah, locked in a coal shed at the local convent. This unsettling encounter forces him to confront the dark realities of the Magdalene Laundries—institutions run by the Catholic Church where “fallen” women were subjected to forced labor and abuse.

Cast and Crew

• Director: Tim Mielants
• Writer: Enda Walsh
• Producers: Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon
• Production Companies: Artists Equity, Big Things Films​

Main Cast:

• Cillian Murphy as Bill Furlong
• Emily Watson as Sister Mary
• Michelle Fairley as Eileen Furlong
• Ciarán Hinds in a supporting role​

Themes and Reception

The film delves into themes of moral courage, societal complicity, and the struggle between personal conscience and communal silence. Critics have praised Murphy’s performance, noting his portrayal of Bill Furlong as a man grappling with internal conflict and societal pressures. The film has been described as a “piercingly painful Magdalene Laundries drama” that sheds light on a dark chapter of Irish history.

Release Information

Small Things Like These premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 15, 2024, and was released in U.S. theaters on November 8, 2024.

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