Small Things Like These (2024)

Small Things Like These (2024) is based on Claire Keegan’s novel about Ireland’s notorious Magdalene Laundries. It brought in surely the largest audience of our season. Everyone was eager to see Cillian Murphy’s much acclaimed lead performance. And to taste Karen’s delicious Irish Potato Cake, which delighted with its Christmas flavours.

In our new style structured discussion, we talked about themes such as extortion, control, community and complicity.  Bill the coalman, Cillian’s role, is not given a back story in the novel, but this is fleshed out in the film. Our discussion group included a member who had read Claire Keegan’s 2021 novel. She said that it was briefer and more brutal.

Keegan’s books can be “parable like” and the film embellished that. Bill’s choice to take a moral path and help an abused Magdalene Laundry girl, sacrificing the security in his own life, is powerful. There is an abrupt and unresolved ending, which challenges the viewer. We want to know what happens next with this selfless act of goodwill.

We felt that there was great strength in Cillian’s portrayal of Bill. A man of few words, he exudes pain, suffering and anxiety. Washing away the coaldust on his hands each time he comes home is symbolic of cleansing his difficult past as an illegitimate child.

We appreciated the interesting sound design, for example, the way we could hear sounds coming from the next room in Bill’s claustrophobic house. This emphasises his alienation and detachment. 

There are plenty of powerful images of windows and mirrors. He glimpses his mother through the window embracing Ned (his real father? It’s not clear). He stares at himself while in the barber’s chair and his mind goes back to childhood. He conveys “out and out angst” throughout and we experience an intimate glimpse into his inner world through his expressions and sounds. We even hear him swallowing.

This film was harrowing in many ways.  However, we agreed that it was constantly dark but “gorgeous and stunning.”  One of the audience said, “Well done to whoever suggested this wonderful film.”

We appreciated the talented Irish animators who shared their short films. Director John Kelly’s ‘Retirement Plan’ certainly raised some laughs in an otherwise mega-serious evening.

Discussion Group Rating:  7.8 out of 10.   A remarkable intense central performance but a deeply sombre experience.

Anne