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

A Quiet Christmas in 1985, but Tensions Linger

Bill Furlong, a hardworking Irish coal merchant, lives a modest life with his wife Eileen and five daughters in New Ross. Throughout the film, flashbacks to his childhood subtly surface—his single mother, ostracized yet resilient, and hints that Ned, a kind farmhand, may be his father.

Disturbing Discoveries at the Convent

On routine coal deliveries, Bill notices unsettling signs: women polishing floors under duress, a teenage girl begging for help to escape the convent, and eventually discovering Sarah locked in a freezing shed, visibly bruised and terrified.

The Veiled Threat of Sister Mary

Bill is summoned to Sister Mary’s office. There, beneath her gentle demeanor lies a veiled warning: speak up, and it could cost his daughters their schooling. She offers him a Christmas gift—money enclosed in a card for his wife—as a psychological leash, not charity.

Conflict Between Conscience and Complacency

As he returns home, troubled, Bill muses over his family’s safety versus ethical duty. Townsfolk, including the pub owner Mrs. Kehoe, counsel him to stay silent—highlighting the Church’s grip on the community

Taking a Stand on Christmas Eve

Unable to ignore the injustice, Bill visits the convent again, finds Sarah, wraps her in his coat, and escorts her—quietly, with resolve—past familiar faces in town to his home, offering her shelter. His act is simple, intimate, yet profoundly brave.

Cut to Black—and a Weighty Dedication

The film abruptly cuts to black once Bill reaches home. What follows is a dedication: “For the more than 56,000 young women sent to Magdalene institutions between 1922 and 1998”.

Movie Ending

In the climactic ending, Bill Furlong chooses moral integrity over personal safety. He rescues Sarah from the convent and brings her into his family home—a bold step that stands in direct opposition to the community’s silence and collusion. The film does not provide closure on the aftermath—no legal resolution, no public reckoning. Instead, the screen cuts to black on that charged moment, forcing viewers to grapple with what might come next: Will his family face retribution? Will Sarah truly find safety in a world marred by stigma? It turns the act of rescue into a resonant moral question rather than a tidy conclusion

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
• Eileen Walsh as Eileen Furlong
• Emily Watson as Sister Mary
• Michelle Fairley as Mrs. Wilson
• Clare Dunne as Sister Carmel
• Helen Behan as Mrs. Kehoe
• Zara Devlin as Sarah Redmond

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)