Small Things Like These Review: Quiet Bravery
Theatrical Movie Review - Historical Drama
When the world feels overwhelming and problems are too big to tackle, the choice to just put your head down and focus on what is right in front of you can feel like the most prudent choice. In the new film Small Things Like These, filmmaker Tim Mielants turns a focused eye on the decision to look up and take action, even when it is not necessarily in your best interest to do so.
Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy) is a kind man, husband, and father. His wife, Eileen (Eileen Walsh), and his daughters love him. He cares about the people in his community, giving change to those who need it and ensuring people feel heard. One day, on a coal delivery, he sees a young woman being dragged into a local convent. He mentions this to Eileen, but she encourages him to keep his mouth shut and just worry about his daughters instead of the wayward daughters of others. But when he finds Sarah (Zara Devlin) locked in the coal shed, he realizes that silence is not an option.
Small Things Like These is a quiet and thoughtful film. Rather than one explosive, action-packed moment, there is a slow build throughout the film to its end. As various aspects of Bill’s life are brought to light through the narrative, we get a better picture of him and why he makes his decisions, ultimately leading us to the conclusion.
Murphy is absolutely exquisite in this. He gives a beautiful and introspective performance that is one of the best of his illustrious career. Walsh is outstanding as his wife, balancing his somewhat dreamy and idealistic views with a more practical outlook. And Emily Watson, as Sister Mary, the leader of the convent, gives a standout performance, creating a soft-spoken and steady character who is nevertheless terrifying.
The film is lovely to watch. There is a warmth to it that allows it to feel lived in while still maintaining a sense of austerity that keeps it from being fully inviting. We want to sit at the table with the Furlongs while they eat supper, but there is a sadness to Bill that keeps us at arm's length.
The structure of Small Things Like These is the primary mover. There are a number of flashbacks to Bill’s youth, and those, juxtaposed with his current stress surrounding what he observes in the convent, create tension without any need for something big and flashy. It is an impressive work of allowing a story to unfold without forcing it.
When talking about something as terrible as the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland, the easy choice is to make a film highlighting the mistreatment and outright abuse of these “fallen women,” but instead, Small Things Like These chooses to focus on small acts of bravery that are necessary in the face of systemic injustice. And it reminds us that we can make those same choices every day.
This review originally appeared in The Dominion Post on November 10, 2024.
Please watch my interview with Small Things Like These director Tim Mielants.