By Jack Ransom - November 21, 2024
Based on true events. Small Things Like These is set in 1985 and sees devoted father Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy) discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent and uncovers shocking truths of his own.
Coming off the back of last year’s career defining and landmark blockbuster event Oppenheimer, this tenderly low-key, slower paced and at times overbearingly quiet drama very much feels like an intentional and fitting response from Murphy to understandably draw more audience interest to this horrific situation that occurred in the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland, of which I was genuinely stunned that the chilling events that occurred lasted as long as they did between 1922 - 1998.
The entire duration of the film feels like we are viewing this tight-knit town under a microscope. The framing and interior of Bill’s family home (a full house, with he, his wife and their four daughters), the frequent close-ups that swallow the screen and capture every facial inflection and the frequent background peeking into everyday life of the town’s citizens. The subtle overarching influence and collective hush-hush that the town partakes in regarding the convent is palpable and seeing Bill wrestling with the morality of what he should do, having seen behind the scenes first hand, yet knowing that the repercussions that could befall his family’s future is a consistently throbs with tension.
This present day (within the film) narrative intertwines with Bill’s childhood trauma and memories beginning to aggressively resurface due to the Yuletide season and because of what he witnessed at the convent. The pacing is a tad slow at points and a smattering of narrative elements do feel like they could have been focused on a tad more. However, it’s the struggle passivity of gnawing guilt and responsibility that weighs upon Bill (we see his somewhat mundane routine, of which gives his mind time to fester) that the film emphasises so well.
The intimate camerawork that balances the aforementioned heavy close-ups, with focus often pulled back from Bill as he is blurred in the background and stylised tracking shots and drawn out pans that slowly allow us to soak in the location. The cinematography is quietly impressive, with plenty of snowy, night-time shots and naturally fire lit interiors and reflections of Bill.
Murphy is fantastic here. A calm, distant, troubled and subtle presence that is so understated yet magnetic. His portrayal and layering of Bill’s personality and the twisted curtain that he has pulled back that weighs upon him. Contrasting this is Emily Watson’s piercing, stony and monstrous presence. She swallows the screen and owns the frame in her smattering of appearances. Lastly, both Zara Devlin and Eileen Walsh deliver in their supporting roles.
Small Things Like These is a prickly, intimate, and quietly intense and engaging drama that is certainly worth seeking out. Its chilly setting, interesting yet dark subject matter, strong cinematography and standout performances overshadow its slower moments and less emphasised upon important narrative factors.
Small Things Like These released in UK & Ireland cinemas November 1
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