Emily Garbutt
Updated on: October 13, 2024 12:47 pm GMT
In a striking shift from his recent role in the acclaimed film Oppenheimer, Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy is poised to captivate audiences once again with his performance in Small Things Like These, a poignant historical drama set for release on November 8. The film delves into a painful chapter of Irish history through the eyes of Bill Furlong, a coal merchant who confronts disturbing secrets tied to the local convent.
Bringing a Painful History to Light
Small Things Like These, adapted from Claire Keegan’s acclaimed novella, spotlights the real-life practices of the Magdalene Laundries—institutions run by the Catholic Church that housed “fallen” women, often separated from their children. The film takes place in the small Irish town of New Ross in 1985, just before Christmas, and follows Furlong as he grapples with profound moral dilemmas after encountering the harsh realities within the convent’s walls.
- Bill Furlong: A coal merchant struggling with his own past.
- Themes: Confronting trauma, morality, and the role of the Catholic Church in Ireland.
- Historical Context: The Magdalene Laundries operated until 1996, leaving a legacy of sorrow and shame.
“Hearing a mother plead for her daughter not to enter the convent, Furlong is forced to reckon with what lies beneath the surface of his seemingly tranquil life,” Murphy has said about his character. “The story is a vital exploration of empathy and the complexities of human emotion.”
Transformative Collaboration
This project marks Murphy’s first significant post-Oppenheimer venture, and the journey to bring Small Things Like These to the screen was both quick and collaborative. After discussing potential projects in Dublin in 2021, Murphy and his close friend, Tim Mielants, the film’s director, tapped into Keegan’s work. They were thrilled to discover the adaptation rights were available, which Murphy described as “kind of a miracle.”
Murphy pitched the idea to Oscar-winning actor Matt Damon during the filming of Oppenheimer, highlighting its thematic connections to Manchester by the Sea.
“Matt loved the script immediately,” Murphy recalled. “They paid for the movie, and it came together remarkably quickly.” With Artists Equity, the production company co-founded by Damon and Ben Affleck, behind the project, the film secured proper financial backing and creative input.
A Deep Personal Connection
Both Murphy and Mielants bring a personal resonance to the film’s narrative. The director noted that Furlong’s struggle with delayed grief mirrors his own experiences. “I never saw an actor express so well and so much what I’ve been through,” Mielants stated about collaborating with Murphy. This deep emotional connection allowed them to explore complex themes surrounding grief, trauma, and societal expectations in 1980s Ireland.
Murphy himself explained, “It’s a seemingly simple story, but incredibly complex when viewed through the lens of history, culture, and trauma.” The film’s exploration of these layers offers audiences a humane portrayal of a period often shrouded in silence and stigma.
Emotionally Demanding Role
After an intense period filming Oppenheimer, Murphy needed time to recharge before stepping into the emotionally demanding role of Furlong. He described finishing Oppenheimer as “pretty broken… physically and mentally” due to the extreme weight loss required for the role of J. Robert Oppenheimer. This meant Small Things Like These became a crucial moment of renewal for him, shot in his homeland.
Despite this welcome return to his roots, Murphy acknowledged the heavy emotional toll of portraying a character navigating immense personal and communal trauma. “It does exact a bit of a cost,” he mused after an emotionally taxing scene. “Your psyche is trying to understand why you feel what you’re experiencing.”
A Grounded Performance
The intensity of Murphy’s performance has already garnered praise ahead of the film’s premiere. Critics have noted that he strikes a delicate balance between silence and emotion, navigating Furlong’s internal struggles with grace. His portrayal is not just about the weight of the character’s history; it’s about evoking a sense of shared grief and the burden of silence among men in Irish society.
The film’s trailer hints at this emotional depth, featuring scenes of Furlong delivering coal while being confronted with the haunting screams of children. As Furlong interacts with his community and uncovers disturbing truths, viewers are drawn into a story that challenges notions of complicity and comfort.
Looking Ahead
As Small Things Like These approaches its release, anticipation is building not just for Murphy’s performance but for its wider social implications. The discussions surrounding the film resonate in today’s context, shedding light on issues of justice, accountability, and the recovery of suppressed narratives.
Following his success in Oppenheimer, the film puts Murphy back in the spotlight, potentially positioning him for another round of award nominations. As he prepares for the release, and eventually, the Netflix Peaky Blinders film, Small Things Like These demonstrates his range as an actor eager to tackle challenging material head-on.
Murphy expressed excitement over making a film that diverges so significantly from his previous roles: “You don’t need to say anything—just feel it, and the audience gets it.” This embodies a key strength of Murphy’s acting style: effortlessly inviting viewers into the emotional landscape of his character.
*Small Things Like These* is a touching story about feelings, right and wrong, and the important lessons from our past. In this film, we will see Murphy give an amazing performance that shows how stories can help us understand and respect the different parts of being human.
