Small Things like These (2024)

My Review

“Small Things like These” is an historical drama film about a coal merchant in a small town in Ireland in 1985 who stumbles upon forced labor camps in a local Catholic convent. Cillian Murphy delivers a strong performance as the coal merchant; he is the center of the movie. Belgian director Tim Mielants and Irish screenwriter Enda Walsh put together an understated drama movie with good production values, memorable performances, and good writing. It was adapted from Claire Keegan’s 2021 novel of the same name, whose subject matter was the infamous Magdalene laundries scandals.

The cast includes Cillian Murphy, Emily Watson, Eileen Walsh, Michelle Fairley, Claire Dunne, Peter Claffey, and Helen Behan as the owner of the local pub. “Small Things like These” was a modest financial success for producer Matt Damon, Artists Equity, Dutch FilmWorks, and Lionsgate UK Ltd. It was filmed in various locales in Ireland.