-Written by Kyle Bain.
In 1980’s Ireland, hard-working father Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy) discovers that the local convent is keeping secrets. The more he learns, the more he’s disturbed. Small Things Like These explores Bill’s journey toward understanding the terrible things that happen behind closed doors, far too close to him and his family.
Small Things Like These is a film that was ultimately made as a result of Murphy’s passion for the story. With his seemingly endless connections, he communicated with some of Hollywood’s incredibly successful individuals in order to ensure that this story would come to life. Passion projects like this make me nervous. Oftentimes writers, directors, or whoever might be vying for a particular film to be made are blinded by their love for the project, rather than seeing clearly what sits right in front of them. To a degree Small Things Like These falls into that category, a film that has potential and should be told but is missing something.
Small Things Like These moves incredibly slow, with much of nothing until nearly an hour in. Bill Furlong is developed far more than the story is up to that point, and while he’s a compelling character, it’s frustrating that not much comes of the story through nearly two thirds of the film. The slow burn present throughout the course of Small Things Like These certainly feels intentional, as if Writers Enda Walsh and Claire Keegan, as well as Director Tim Mielants, wanted the emotion present in the film to slowly etch its way into the minds of viewers. I think this works to a degree, but I sort of felt stranded at the same time, struggling to understand the purpose of the film beyond the mere existence of emotion.
It takes until the final fifteen minutes or so to finally realize what’s been happening throughout. I’m not sure if I’m just incredibly dense–but it appears that Small Things Like These does, in fact, take this long to develop. I think the payoff is ultimately worth the wait, but it’s challenging to get through the first hour of the film feeling as if it’s headed nowhere.
The best part of Small Things Like These is, surprising to no one, Murphy. Coming off a win at the Academy Awards for Best Actor for his role in Oppenheimer, he doesn’t miss a beat here, continuing to shine so brightly that just his presence is enough to propel a film forward. Murphy is asked to remain even keeled throughout the entirety of the film, keeping emotion present just beneath the surface, without ever really letting it boil over. He has once again achieved greatness in his performance, again, being the shining light of Small Things Like These.
Stylistically Small Things Like These stands out as being unique to the times. Existing in the same vein as films like The Banshees of Inisherin and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, where a calmness juxtaposes a dreadful and heavy scenario. This works in favor of the film as it creates a balance in tone and mood and it allows viewers to absorb the emotion with ease. There are layers to this film just like those two aforementioned successes, and there’s a lot to dissect throughout–but I feel that this team does a nice job of making the literal and metaphorical available to viewers. Small Things Like These is well shot, well acted, and emotionally riveting–but, again, there’s something missing. The story needs to move a bit quicker, getting into the bulk of the story earlier in the film.
Directed by Tim Mielants.
Written by Enda Walsh & Claire Keegan.
Starring Cillian Murphy, Patrick Ryan, Peter Claffey, Ian O’Reilly, Helen Behan, etc.
7.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
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