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Small Things like These (film)

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Small Things like These
UK release poster
Directed byTim Mielants
Screenplay byEnda Walsh[1]
Based onSmall Things like These
by Claire Keegan
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyFrank van den Eeden
Edited byAlain Dessauvage
Music bySenjan Jansen
Production
companies
Distributed byLionsgate (Ireland and United Kingdom)
Release dates
  • 15 February 2024 (2024-02-15) (Berlinale)
  • 1 November 2024 (2024-11-01) (Ireland and United Kingdom)
Running time
98 minutes[2]
Countries
LanguageEnglish
Box office$8.8 million[3][4]

Small Things like These is a 2024 historical drama film directed by Tim Mielants and adapted by Enda Walsh from the 2021 novel by Claire Keegan. The film stars Cillian Murphy (who also serves as a producer), Eileen Walsh, Michelle Fairley, Emily Watson, Clare Dunne, and Helen Behan. An international co-production between Ireland and Belgium, its plot focuses on the infamous Magdalene Laundries in Ireland.

Small Things like These had its world premiere at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on 15 February 2024, and was released in Ireland and the United Kingdom on 1 November 2024. It received positive reviews from critics.

Plot

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As Christmas 1985 approaches, coal merchant Bill Furlong from the Irish town of New Ross is a father of five girls who is well regarded as a fair and hard-working man. In flashbacks, Bill revisits his difficult childhood as the son of a young single mother, ostracized by her family but permitted to work for Mrs. Wilson, a wealthy and independent landowner. One day he sets off on his deliveries earlier than expected. When he opens the coal shed of the local convent, he discovers a teenage girl, Sarah, locked in the shed in freezing temperatures. The girl says she will have to give birth there in five months. Bill brings Sarah to the convent where the nuns pretend to take care of her. Sarah and Bill are led in the cozy office of Sister Mary, the convent's Mother Superior. Here Sarah feels compelled to falsely claim she was locked in the shed by other girls while playing hide-and-seek. After Sarah is led away, Sister Mary, ominously asks Bill about his family, as both Bill's wife Eileen and Bill's eldest daughter Kathleen attended the school run by the nuns. She strongly implies that if he speaks about what he has seen she could prevent his younger daughters from attending the school. She then writes a Christmas card, inserts in the card a "gift" of cash, writes "Eileen" on the envelope, seals the envelope, and presents it to Bill. Bill takes it, and returns home more troubled than before, omitting to give the envelope to Eileen. Later Eileen asks Bill about the card, as she has met Sister Mary who told her about it. Bill gives the sealed envelope to Eileen, who is surprised to find the "gift" and wonders why Bill didn't give the envelope to her, a question that he dismisses by saying that he forgot.

Bill later visits the local pub whose owner, Mrs. Kehoe, advises Bill to toe the line and not speak out about the convent and what's going on, because of the nuns' social influence. One evening Bill goes to buy his wife a Christmas present, and on the way home sees a gift he always wanted as a child. He then walks to the convent, and opens the coal shed to find Sarah again. Bill slowly wins her reluctance dictated by fear, and walks her out of the shed and the convent's premises. Slowly walking past acquaintances in full view, he eventually carries the ailing girl to his home. Bill welcomes her into the hearth of his family, finally smiling to show her she is safe.

The film closes with a dedication to the women victims of the Magdalene Laundries, which ran from 1922 to 1998.

Cast

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Production

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It was reported in March 2023 that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon would produce the film via their production company Artists Equity, with Damon reportedly producing alongside Drew Vinton and Jeff Robinov, and Affleck executive producing with Kevin Halloran and Michael Joe. Cillian Murphy would appear in the film and produce along with Alan Moloney via their production company Big Things Films. Ciarán Hinds and Emily Watson were announced to be joining Murphy in the cast. The project was revealed to be directed by Tim Mielants, from a script by Enda Walsh.[7] The film is an Irish production with additional funding coming from Screen Ireland and will be co-produced with Wilder Content in Belgium.[8]

The Irish Independent reported in late 2022 and early 2023 that shooting locations for a film of the book were being sought in New Ross, County Wexford.[9][10] Deadline Hollywood reported in March 2023 that principal photography was under way,[11] with filming in County Wicklow expected to last for four weeks.[12]

Release

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The film had its world premiere on 15 February 2024 at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival.[13] In June 2024, Lionsgate acquired distribution rights to the film for North America, the United Kingdom and Ireland, teaming up with Roadside Attractions for the American release.[14] It was released in Ireland and the United Kingdom on 1 November 2024, and the United States a week later on 8 November.[15]

Reception

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Critical response

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Small Things like These received positive reviews upon release.[16] On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 93% of 76 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The website's consensus reads: "Cillian Murphy's outstanding acting anchors Small Things Like These, elevating an occasionally enervating historical drama."[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 82 out of 100, based on 27 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[18]

Ben Croll from TheWrap called the film a "modest gem".[19] Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian gave the film four out of five stars and described it as an "absorbing, committed drama", stating: "I was so rapt, so caught up in this film, that I wasn't aware that it was going to be the ending until the screen faded to black."[20] James Mottram from Radio Times also gave the film four out of five stars and called it an "understated drama that's miniature in scale but not ambition".[21] Tim Robey from The Telegraph described it as "a tight-lipped Irish drama even more suffused with sadness than the log-line implies, and shouldered with hypnotic grace by a very special Cillian Murphy".[22] Guy Lodge from Variety praised Murphy's performance, describing him as the film's "live emotional current" and saying that "Small Things Like These rests on both his quiet and his disquiet as an actor".[23]

David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter called the film a moving, "somber, unhurried drama" and appreciated Murphy and Watson's performances.[6] Jonathan Romney from Screen Daily highlighted Murphy and Walsh's performances, Mielants's direction and Walsh's writing, which is "largely faithful" to the novel.[5] Rachel Pronger from IndieWire called the film a "subtler, a genuinely profound low-key gem" and appreciated Walsh's writing and Murphy, Watson and Walsh's performances.[24] Stephanie Bunbury from Deadline Hollywood lamented the film's lack of "dramatic tension", but appreciated Watson's performance.[25] Writing for RogerEbert.com, Robert Daniels noted that the film has "a promising premise that loses some steam in the final half hour".[26]

Accolades

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Award Date Category Recipient Result Ref.
Berlin International Film Festival 25 February 2024 Golden Bear Small Things like These Nominated [27]
Best Supporting Performance Emily Watson Won [28]
Camerimage 23 November 2024 Golden Frog for Best Cinematography Frank van den Eeden Nominated [29]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Small Things Like These". Berlinale. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Small Things Like This (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Small Things like These". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Small Things like These – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  5. ^ a b Romney, Jonathan (15 February 2024). "'Small Things Like These': Berlin Review". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e Rooney, David (15 February 2024). "'Small Things Like These' Review: Cillian Murphy Is Superb as a Haunted Man in Subdued but Powerful Irish Berlin Opener". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  7. ^ Luchies, Adam (20 March 2023). "Cillian Murphy and Ciarán Hinds to Star in Movie Adaptation of 'Small Things Like These'". Collider. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  8. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (20 March 2023). "Cillian Murphy To Star In & Produce 'Small Things Like These' Backed By Ben Affleck & Matt Damon's Artists Equity". Deadline. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  9. ^ Looby, David (9 November 2022). "Cillian Murphy visits Wexford to scope out location for adaptation of Claire Keegan's Booker Prize-nominated novel". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  10. ^ Looby, David (8 February 2023). "Cillian Murphy lined up to star in New Ross based film". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  11. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (20 March 2023). "Cillian Murphy To Star In & Produce 'Small Things Like These' Backed By Ben Affleck & Matt Damon's Artists Equity". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  12. ^ Shanahan, Luke (20 March 2023). "Principal photography begins on Small Things Like These in Wicklow". The Irish Film & Television Network. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  13. ^ Shafer, Ellise (18 January 2024). "Cillian Murphy Historical Drama 'Small Things Like These' to Open Berlin Film Festival". Variety. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  14. ^ Galuppo, Mia (5 June 2024). "Cillian Murphy Irish Drama 'Small Things Like These' Lands at Lionsgate". The Hollywood Reporter.
  15. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (17 September 2024). "Small Things Like These: Lionsgate Sets Release Dates For Cillian Murphy-Starrer, Drops Official Trailer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Small Things Like These: Cillian Murphy's new Irish drama earns rave reviews at Berlin Film Festival". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  17. ^ "Small Things like These". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 9 November 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  18. ^ "Small Things like These". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  19. ^ Croll, Ben (15 February 2024). "'Small Things Like This' Review: Cillian Murphy Anchors Melancholic Tale of Yuletide Loneliness". TheWrap. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  20. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (16 February 2024). "Small Things Like These review – Cillian Murphy's piercingly painful Magdalene Laundries drama". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  21. ^ Mottram, James (16 February 2024). "Small Things Like These review: Cillian Murphy is superb in subtle drama". Radio Times. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  22. ^ Robey, Tim (15 February 2024). "Small Things Like These: Cillian Murphy mesmerises in his first post-Oppenheimer role". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  23. ^ Lodge, Guy (15 February 2024). "'Small Things Like These' Review: Cillian Murphy Brings Quiet Intensity to a Mournful Irish Moral Drama". Variety. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  24. ^ Pronger, Rachel (15 February 2024). "'Small Things Like These' Review: Cillian Murphy Gives Another Staggering Performance in Profound Irish Gem". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  25. ^ Bunbury, Stephanie (15 February 2024). "'Small Things Like These' Review: Cillian Murphy Plays A Father In Torment In '80s-Set Irish Trauma Tale – Berlin Film Festival Opening-Night Film". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  26. ^ Daniels, Robert (16 February 2024). "Berlin Film Festival 2024: Small Things Like These, Crossing, Cuckoo | Festivals & Awards | Roger Ebert". rogerebert.com. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  27. ^ Rosser, Michael (22 January 2024). "Berlin film festival reveals 2024 competition line-up". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  28. ^ Ntim, Zac (24 February 2024). "Berlin Film Festival: Mati Diop Wins Golden Bear With Documentary 'Dahomey,' Emily Watson And Sebastian Stan Take Acting Honors". Deadline. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  29. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (30 October 2024). "'Gladiator 2,' 'Dune 2,' 'Blitz' Among Camerimage's 2024 Main Competition Lineup". Variety. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
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