Small Things Like These (2024)

Small Things Like These (2024) is a quietly powerful historical drama directed by Tim Mielants and based on the acclaimed novella by Claire Keegan. With a deeply human story set against the backdrop of institutional abuse in 1980s Ireland, the film explores personal morality, silence, and the cost of doing what’s right—even when it threatens to upend everything.

Starring Cillian Murphy in a career-defining performance, the film is restrained, intimate, and hauntingly relevant.

Detailed Summary

The Setting: Ireland, 1985

The film is set during Christmastime in a small Irish town, a community steeped in Catholic tradition and overseen by the presence of the local convent. Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy), a quiet, decent coal merchant and family man, is leading a modest life with his wife Eileen and their daughters. He delivers coal to local homes and businesses, including the convent-run laundry—a Magdalene institution.

At first glance, Furlong’s life appears simple, even routine. But beneath this surface lies a tension, both within his community and within himself, stemming from his own past and the secrets he slowly begins to uncover.

The Discovery at the Convent

During one of his early morning coal deliveries, Furlong notices strange behavior at the convent. Eventually, he stumbles upon a locked coal shed where a teenage girl—frightened, cold, and clearly abused—is being held. She begs for help. The nuns brush it off, insisting she’s mentally unstable and a threat to herself.

This discovery disturbs Furlong, reopening old emotional wounds about his own origins. He was raised by a kind but unmarried mother and has always harbored quiet shame and gratitude for her sacrifices in a harshly judgmental society.

The girl’s presence is not a secret to the town. It’s simply ignored.

The Pressure to Stay Silent

Furlong’s inner turmoil escalates as he wrestles with the moral implications of what he’s seen. Friends, his wife, even the priest suggest he “leave well enough alone.” The entire community is complicit in its silence.

He is warned, subtly but clearly, that challenging the Church—especially the Magdalene system—could jeopardize his business, his family’s social standing, and his children’s future.

Movie Ending

Despite repeated warnings and his own fear, Furlong makes a fateful decision. On Christmas Eve, he returns to the convent. Rather than delivering coal, he demands to see the girl again. Against the nuns’ resistance, he physically intervenes. The girl, Sarah, is terrified but follows him as he takes her by the hand and leads her away from the institution.

There’s no courtroom showdown. No fiery speech. Just quiet defiance. Furlong, trembling but resolute, walks Sarah through the town, back toward his home, where his family awaits.

The final scene is layered with ambiguity and tension. As they walk, Furlong begins to cry—not out of fear, but release. He knows that his act will have consequences. His decision to protect one innocent girl will likely cost him dearly.

Yet, in that moment, he is fully human, fully awake, and, in a way, finally free. The film ends with a close-up of his tear-streaked face as church bells ring in the distance. A quiet act of resistance becomes an overwhelming act of courage.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Small Things Like These does not feature a post-credits scene. The final moments of the film are meant to linger and settle with the audience. Nothing after the credits seeks to provide closure or further narrative—intentionally.

Type of Movie

• Genre: Drama, Historical, Social Realism
• Tone: Introspective, somber, morally charged
• Pacing: Slow and deliberate, with strong emotional resonance

Cast

• Cillian Murphy as Bill Furlong
• Emily Watson as Sister Mary
• Catherine McCormack as Eileen Furlong
• Zara Devlin as Sarah
• Michelle Fairley in a supporting role
• Eileen Walsh as a local townswoman

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Senjan Jansen, known for his delicate and haunting compositions.

Filming Locations

• Shot primarily in County Wexford and County Wicklow, Ireland, both known for their rugged beauty and historic villages.
• The convent was filmed in an actual disused religious facility, adding authenticity to the oppressive environment.
• The setting plays a vital role in capturing the small-town claustrophobia and the omnipresence of the Church.

Awards and Nominations

Small Things Like These premiered at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival, where it received strong critical acclaim. Awards and nominations include:

• Berlinale – Best Performance (Cillian Murphy)
• Nomination – Golden Bear (Best Film)
• Expected nominations at the Oscars 2025 for Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Score.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Cillian Murphy also served as a producer, helping bring the adaptation to life.
• The cast was kept small to preserve the story’s intimacy.
• Claire Keegan was consulted during the scripting process to ensure thematic accuracy.
• Filming took place over a very short shoot (less than 30 days), largely in natural light.
• Real Magdalene survivors were consulted during pre-production, contributing emotional authenticity.

Inspirations and References

The film is based on the novella “Small Things Like These” by Claire Keegan.

• Inspired by the real-life atrocities of Magdalene Laundries, where young women deemed “morally deviant” were confined, exploited, and abused by Church-run institutions.
• Reflects on Ireland’s history of institutional silence and complicity, much like Keegan’s previous work (Foster).

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

• No publicly released alternate ending exists.
• One deleted scene featured Eileen (Bill’s wife) discussing her worries more openly—cut for pacing reasons.
• A short scene of Bill as a child visiting the convent was filmed but later removed to keep focus on the present.

Book Adaptations and Differences

While largely faithful, the film makes some additions and expansions:

• The girl in the book remains unnamed longer; the film gives her a stronger emotional presence.
• The film elaborates more on Furlong’s relationship with his wife and daughters.
• In the novella, the ending is even more restrained—no walk through the town—just the decision. The film externalizes this with visual drama, without betraying the tone.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Furlong discovering the girl in the coal shed.
• Christmas Day dinner, where the family silently senses Furlong’s inner conflict.
• The confrontation at the convent’s gates.
• Final walk through town with Sarah.

Iconic Quotes

• “It’s the small things that tell you who someone is, not what they say.”
• “What kind of place lets this happen and pretends it doesn’t?”
• “She’s just a girl, cold and scared. That’s all I see.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• Several townspeople glance away when the convent is mentioned, hinting at community complicity.
• A portrait in the Furlong home subtly mirrors Bill’s own mother, reinforcing her invisible influence.
• Christmas carols playing in scenes of injustice add eerie contrast.
• A book on Bill’s nightstand is Silas Marner—another story about a man trying to do right in a harsh world.

Trivia

• Cillian Murphy read the novella during lockdown and optioned it almost immediately.
• The film was shot chronologically to allow Murphy to build emotional weight naturally.
• Emily Watson stayed in-character between takes to maintain intensity.
• Many interior scenes were lit by actual candlelight and fire, not artificial lighting.

Why Watch?

Small Things Like These is not loud or sensational—it’s quiet, piercing, and essential. If you’re drawn to stories about ordinary people standing against powerful systems, this is a must-see. It’s a film about conscience, courage, and quiet rebellion, told with tenderness and restraint.

For fans of emotionally resonant, socially conscious dramas, it will linger long after the credits roll.

Director’s Other Movies

• Wil (2023)
• De Patrick (2019)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Philomena (2013)
• The Magdalene Sisters (2002)
• Calvary (2014)
• Belfast (2021)
• A Hidden Life (2019)
• Silence (2016)