Cillian Murphy stars in the new film Small Things Like These, portraying a complex chapter in Irish history. The story, based on Claire Keegan’s Booker-shortlisted novella, follows coal merchant Bill Furlong in 1985 as he uncovers a disturbing scene at a local Magdalene Laundry. The laundries, operated by religious institutions, were notorious for housing unwed mothers and other young women sent by their families, courts, or religious authorities.
Cillian Murphy on Ireland’s Dramatic Cultural Shift
Cillian Murphy, fresh off his Oscar win for Oppenheimer, remarked that the film offers a look at “a completely different country” as Ireland was in the 1980s. Reflecting on the era, he noted that issues like abortion, divorce, and even contraception were largely restricted, creating a societal atmosphere reminiscent of the 1950s. “It’s only when you drop in something like ‘Come on Eileen’ that you realize we’re actually in 1985,” Murphy explained, highlighting how deeply Ireland has evolved since then.
The Complex Subtext and Ending of Small Things Like These
Eileen Walsh, Cillian Murphy’s co-star, emphasized the film’s thought-provoking nature, which encourages viewers to explore different perspectives. According to Walsh, “three people can watch the film and have three different opinions as to how it ends.” The story closes just as the drama is set to intensify, leaving audiences with questions about what might come next for the characters and for Ireland’s cultural reckoning.
Remembering Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries
While the last of these institutions closed in Northern Ireland in 1990, the legacy of the Magdalene Laundries remains. The film offers an essential exploration of this period, drawing attention to a part of Ireland’s history that continues to resonate deeply with contemporary audiences.
