Cillian Murphy leads the cast of Small Things Like These, a 2024 historical drama that brings Claire Keegan’s acclaimed novella to the screen. Directed by Tim Mielants, the film explores dark secrets buried within 1980s Ireland, centering on a coal merchant who stumbles upon disturbing truths at a local convent. The adaptation has garnered significant attention for its sensitive handling of painful historical events tied to the Magdalene Laundries.

The story unfolds in Newbay, a fictional Irish town during the winter of 1985, where Bill Furlong navigates the complexities of family life and community expectations. As he investigates what he finds within the convent’s walls, Bill confronts questions about complicity, morality, and the silence that often shields systemic abuse. The film runtime spans 1 hour and 38 minutes, offering a focused narrative that adapts Keegan’s compact source material.

Produced through an Ireland-Belgium co-production with support from Screen Ireland and Artists Equity, Small Things Like These represents a collaborative effort to bring this important story to international audiences. The film-distributors Lionsgate Films and Roadside Attractions have made it accessible through various platforms, though availability varies by region.

Where to Watch Small Things Like These

For viewers seeking to experience this acclaimed historical drama, several streaming and rental options exist. Apple TV currently lists the film as available for streaming or rental. Regional availability through Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions has also provided access across different markets, though viewers are encouraged to check their preferred platforms for the most current options.

Netflix availability remains unconfirmed based on available information. Those interested in watching the film should verify current offerings directly through their subscription services or digital retailers, as platform catalogues frequently update. Lionsgate typically releases content across multiple VOD services following theatrical or initial platform debuts.

Overview

Key Insights

• The film adapts Claire Keegan’s bestselling 2021 novella, preserving the original’s intimate focus on a single character’s moral awakening
• Set in 1985 Ireland, the narrative confronts the legacy of the Magdalene Laundries, institutions that confined unmarried mothers and vulnerable women for forced labor
• Cillian Murphy serves as both lead actor and producer, bringing his experience from Peacemaker and other prominent roles to the project
• The screenplay by Enda Walsh maintains the novella’s restrained approach while expanding certain sequences for cinematic impact
• Emily Watson portrays Sister Mary, the Mother Superior whose authority masks the convent’s darkest secrets
• The production represents an Ireland-Belgium collaboration, with significant support from Screen Ireland
• Critical reception emphasizes Murphy’s nuanced performance and the film’s respectful treatment of traumatic historical subject matter

Snapshot Facts

Small Things Like These Cast and Director

Tim Mielants directs Small Things Like These with a focus on atmospheric tension and character-driven storytelling. Mielants, whose previous work includes television productions, brings a methodical approach to the material that serves the story’s introspective nature. The screenplay adaptation by Enda Walsh preserves the novella’s literary sensibility while making deliberate choices for the visual medium.

Primary Cast

Cillian Murphy portrays Bill Furlong, the coal merchant whose routine existence collides with disturbing revelations. Murphy, known internationally for his work in action franchises and independent films, delivers what critics have described as a stunning performance. Beyond acting, Murphy serves as a producer on the project, having been instrumental in bringing the adaptation to screen.

Emily Watson plays Sister Mary, the Mother Superior whose controlled demeanor conceals the institution’s systemic exploitation. Watson brings gravitas to the role, creating a character whose authority simultaneously protects and perpetuates harm.

Supporting Cast

The production features additional performances from Zara Devlin as Sarah Redmond, Ella Cannon as a Laundry Girl, and Patrick Ryan as Pat. Louis Kirwan appears as the younger version of Bill Furlong, providing context for the protagonist’s personal history and the circumstances of his birth that inform his later awakening.

Production Team

The producers include Cillian Murphy, Alan Moloney, Catherine Magee, Matt Damon, Drew Vinton, and Jeff Robinov. This combination of Irish production expertise with Hollywood backing has enabled the film to reach broader audiences while maintaining cultural authenticity. The involvement of Matt Damon and his Artists Equity production company represents a significant investment in the project’s quality and distribution reach.

Small Things Like These Book by Claire Keegan

The 2021 novella by Claire Keegan serves as the foundation for this cinematic adaptation. Keegan’s original work gained significant recognition, becoming a bestseller that brought renewed attention to a dark chapter in Irish history. The story’s brevity—typical of Keegan’s economical prose style—posed both opportunities and challenges for the adaptation process.

Literary Origins

Claire Keegan, an acclaimed Irish author, crafted the novella with sparse language that nonetheless conveys profound emotional weight. Her previous works, including Foster and The Blue L经济区, demonstrate her talent for exploring complex themes through intimate character studies. The adaptation preserves this character-focused approach, using Bill Furlong’s perspective as the lens through which audiences experience the narrative.

Adaptation Approach

Screenwriter Enda Walsh faced the task of expanding a concise literary work into a feature film without sacrificing its essential character. The adaptation maintains the novella’s central mystery—the discovery within the convent walls—while developing additional scenes that illuminate the community’s complicity and Bill’s internal conflict.

For readers interested in the source material, the book provides additional interior access to Bill’s thoughts and moral reasoning that the film necessarily externalizes. The relationship between Bill and his mother Sarah receives particular attention in the novel, offering context for his choices that the film suggests through flashback sequences and dialogue.

Thematic Connections

Both the book and film explore themes of silence, complicity, and the moral weight of inaction. Bill’s position as an outsider within his own community—he was born to a woman who worked at the convent—adds personal stakes to his discovery. The narrative examines how ordinary people navigate extraordinary moral dilemmas, particularly when confronting institutions with community authority and religious sanction.

Small Things Like These Reviews and Reactions

Critical response to Small Things Like These has been predominantly positive, with particular praise directed toward Cillian Murphy’s central performance. The film holds strong scores on major review aggregation platforms, indicating broad approval from both critics and general audiences.

Critical Reception

The film has received commendation for its restrained approach to sensitive subject matter. Rather than exploiting the traumatic history of the Magdalene Laundries for melodrama, the production chooses subtlety and implication. Critics on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes and Letterboxd have noted the film’s thoughtful handling of historical trauma, avoiding sensationalism while maintaining emotional impact.

Murphy’s performance consistently receives highlight attention. Reviewers describe his work as nuanced and powerful, carrying the film’s moral weight through carefully calibrated expressions and physical performance. The decision to cast Murphy—a performer with international recognition from franchises like Inception and the Peacemaker series—in an intimate character study represents a notable career choice that has resonated with audiences.

Audience Response

Viewer reactions on platforms like Apple TV show the film with approximately 93% positive reception, suggesting strong audience approval. Discussion forums and social media have featured conversations about the film’s emotional impact and its treatment of Irish history. Many viewers have noted the film as a valuable introduction to a historical period that remains under-discussed in mainstream media.

The adaptation has also prompted renewed interest in Keegan’s original novella. Book clubs and reading groups have incorporated the novel into discussions about historical fiction, Irish studies, and faith-based institutions. For those moved by the film, the book offers additional depth and context.

Timeline of Small Things Like These

Understanding the development and release of Small Things Like These requires examining key moments in its journey from page to screen.

1. 2021: Claire Keegan’s novella “Small Things Like These” published, quickly becoming a bestseller and earning critical acclaim
2. Early 2023: Production announced with Cillian Murphy attached as both star and producer; Tim Mielants confirmed as director
3. Mid-2023: Filming takes place in Ireland with additional production work in Belgium
4. Late 2023: Post-production completes; Lionsgate Films and Roadside Attractions acquire distribution rights
5. 2024: Film releases theatrically in select markets before becoming available on digital and streaming platforms
6. 2024: Critical reviews publish, establishing the film’s positive reception and Murphy’s acclaimed performance

What We Know and What Remains Uncertain

Transparency about the boundaries of available information helps readers navigate this article and form accurate expectations about the film.

Historical Context: Ireland and the Magdalene Laundries

The Magdalene Laundries referenced in Small Things Like These represent a painful chapter in Irish history that has only recently received widespread acknowledgment. These institutions, operated by Catholic religious orders, functioned from the 18th century through 1996, the year the last laundry closed.

Women confined within these facilities—often unmarried mothers, orphans, or those deemed “fallen” by community standards—performed unpaid labor under conditions that historians have described as exploitative. The laundries operated with tacit support from civil authorities, with many institutions receiving government funding while maintaining their secretive nature.

The Irish government’s official apology came in 2013, when then-Taoiseach Enda Kenny acknowledged the state’s role in facilitating the institutions. A subsequent interdepartmental committee estimated that approximately 10,000 women passed through Magdalene Laundries, though precise figures remain difficult to establish due to incomplete records.

For contemporary audiences, films like Small Things Like These serve an important educational function. Understanding the social and religious dynamics that permitted such institutions to operate helps contextualize both the historical trauma and the moral courage required to challenge institutional power.

Sources and References

The following sources informed this article, providing verifiable information about Small Things Like These:

“In 1985, Bill Furlong, a devoted father of five girls, is a coal merchant who discovers disturbing secrets about a local convent and confronts his own past.”

— Wikipedia, Small Things Like These (film)

“A faithful adaptation of Claire Keegan’s best-selling novel about a small-town coal merchant who uncovers shocking truths of his own past.”

— IMDb

“Cillian Murphy delivers a stunning performance in this adaptation of Claire Keegan’s best-selling novella.”

— Apple TV review aggregation

Additional sources consulted include the official Lionsgate film page, Rotten Tomatoes, Letterboxd, and various entertainment news outlets reporting on the production and release.

Summary

Small Things Like These represents a significant literary and cinematic achievement, bringing Claire Keegan’s acclaimed novella to audiences through a carefully crafted adaptation. Directed by Tim Mielants and led by Cillian Murphy’s acclaimed performance, the film explores dark aspects of Irish history while examining timeless questions about moral courage and complicity.

The production’s Irish-Belgium collaboration, supported by Screen Ireland and distributed by Lionsgate Films, has ensured the story reaches viewers seeking thoughtful historical drama. Positive critical reception and strong audience scores suggest the film resonates with those who encounter it.

For viewers interested in exploring the historical context further, understanding Ireland’s complex relationship with the United Kingdom provides valuable background for the social dynamics depicted in the story. The broader conversation about institutional accountability continues, with works like this film contributing to public awareness and historical understanding.

Frequently Asked Questions