A One Mann’s Movies review of “Small Things Like These” (2024).
If you are the Best Actor Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy, what do you follow up “Oppenheimer” with? The answer is the tiny art-house Irish project “Small Things Like These”, that’s what! All credit to him.
“Small Things Like These” is not advertised as a ‘Christmas Film’. But it is set at Christmas and it contains a really heartfelt story that really sums up the true meaning of Christmas. If the end doesn’t make you melt, nothing will.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
“Small Things Like These” Plot Summary:
It’s the late-1980’s (given that Les Dawson is presenting Blankety Blank!). Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy) runs a coal merchant business in the town of New Ross in County Wexford in Ireland. With a bevy of growing daughters, he is concerned about the intentions of men and of protecting his daughters. This gives special meaning to his deliveries to the local convent where he sees a screaming teenage girl forced inside by her mother and one of the sisters.
Certification:
UK: 12A; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC web site: “Upsetting scenes”).
Talent:
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Eileen Walsh, Emily Watson, Clare Dunne.
Directed by: Tim Mielants.
Written by: Enda Walsh. (From the book by Claire Keegan).
Running Time: 1h 38m.
“Small Things Like These” Summary:
Positives:
- Really heart-lifting story of a man who puts his principles before himself.
- Cillian Murphy again demonstrates what a phenomenal actor he is.
- Sheds light on the infamous Catholic ‘Magdalene Institutions’.
Negatives:
- It’s a bleak movie set in a bleak place with coal-dusted people. Don’t expect a lot of Christmas joy!
Review of “Small Things Like These”:
A story that quietly evolves.
This is not a film that is quick to develop. For at least half its running time, very little happens. However, we see deeply into the life of Bill as he delivers coal to his customers and his relationship with his wife (an excellent Eileen Walsh) and four (or is it five?) children. We also see flashbacks to his own childhood and a traumatic but related event.
The peril in Bill’s situation is a quiet and insidious one. That of revealing a secret that, for him, his livelihood and his family, are best left secret. As he is fiercely told by the barmaid “If you want to get on in this life, there are things you have to ignore”. He is told to waive away incidents as “A big nothing”… but his Christmas tip is a lot larger than you would naturally expect.
A nasty taste.
The story shines a light on the terrible treatment of “fallen women” in Ireland at the hands of the “Magdalene Institutions” run by the Catholic church. We only get glimpses of the life of drudgery these poor unfortunates suffered as they have their children whipped away from them and given to “Good Christian homes”. (Very reminiscent of the excellent “Philomena” of course.) I believe the card at the end of the film quoted 56,000 women as being involved, but the wiki page here mentions a figure of 30,000. Either way, it’s a shocking scandal and the whole thing leaves you with a bitter taste in your mouth, despite Bill’s attempts to try to throw ‘one starfish back’, if you know that quote.
Cillian Murphy excels.
Having watched “Conclave” again last night I marvelled at how, with a pretty static expression, Ralph Fiennes manages to convey so much expression by micro-movements of his facial muscles. And Cillian Murphy is just the same. He moves soooooo little, but there is just so much there. Simply brilliant.
Superb cinematography
Also worthy of note is the superb cinematography by the DP Frank van den Eeden who shoots in really dull conditions but manages to perfectly illuminate Murphy’s expressive face, whether that’s through candlelight or the driving rain on his van’s windshield.
Not a ‘Happy Christmas’ movie.
It’s a Christmas movie, which was a real surprise to me…. it is not marketed as that and I was not expecting it. But it is set in such a drab town on a drab day with drab, coal-dust-covered people, that if you asked me for what colour I would associate with the film it would be “grey”. So, although it has an uplifting and heartwarming ending, it’s not really a film to get you in the Christmas spirit.
However, it is a film that is uniquely Irish and has a lot of heart and soul. There are also a lot of ‘Oirish-ness’ in the script, some of which I was simply unable to pick up. A saying quoted at one point I noted down as “Keep the good dog twitchy and the bad dog won’t bite”, which I have no idea about! (If anyone can shed light on this, please comment!) There are also some moving moments of life on the edge, notably a barefoot child in the snow trudging the streets and drinking the milk left out for the reindeer on Christmas Eve.
Shameful. The prisoners held at the Magdalene Instituion. (Source: Lionsgate)
Summary Thoughts on “Small Things Like These”
A really solidly well-made and thoughtful film. Slow-burn and incredibly well-acted with Cillian Murphy giving yet another award-worthy performance. As it is quite bleak, it won’t make my Top 20 for the year, but it is a really fine Irish film nonetheless.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “Small Things Like These”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqwn5Y_Y4xs.
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