A quiet coal merchant confronts the dark legacy of Ireland's Magdalene laundries
In short: In 1985, a simple delivery to a local convent forces a man to face a haunting secret. Based on Claire Keegan's novella, this film explores the moral weight of silence and the courage required to defy a powerful institution that controls the lives of vulnerable women in his community.
Set in late 1985, the story follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant in New Ross, Ireland. While delivering fuel to a convent, Bill discovers a young woman locked in a coal shed. This encounter awakens painful memories of his own childhood, where he was raised by a single mother who worked for a wealthy landowner. As Bill begins to question the convent's treatment of the girls, he faces intense pressure from his wife and local figures to remain silent, with the nuns threatening his own children's education if he interferes.
Directed by Tim Mielants and adapted by Enda Walsh, the film stars Cillian Murphy as Bill and Emily Watson as the formidable Mother Superior, Sister Mary. The production originated after Murphy discussed the project with Matt Damon during the filming of Oppenheimer, leading to a collaboration between their respective production companies. The film premiered at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2024 and was released in late 2024. It concludes with a solemn dedication to the 56,000 women who suffered in the Magdalene laundries between 1922 and 1998.
Critics have largely praised the film for its restrained, minimalist approach. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 94% positive rating, while Metacritic reports universal acclaim. Reviewers have highlighted Murphy's performance as the film's emotional anchor, describing the work as a somber, understated drama. While some critics noted a lack of traditional tension, the film's quiet intensity earned it nine nods at the Irish Film and Television Awards in early 2025. It remains a poignant examination of how small, individual acts of conscience can challenge systemic injustice.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Small Things like These (film)
- Also: Wikidata — Small Things Like These · CC0
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