Small Things Like These | Movie Review

[@sudeshnapal1832]

Cillian said that their aim was to strip away all elements of modern cinema, creating something reminiscent of a silent film, which is why dialogue was kept to a minimum

[@josephcurtisyt]

@@sudeshnapal1832 BEAUTIFUL. Thank you for the insight!

[@its777Aj]

did it realese in theaters

[@kylereece1979]

I am Irish, and watched it last week. It was filmed near where I live, and people in the cinema were whispering about their own knowledge of both the town's streets and locations they were recognising, and thoughts that the film was conjuring up. If you are interested in another film that, really gets into the lives of the girls in a Magdalene Institution, I recommend 'The Magdalene Sisters". That, is really hard hitting . Two more powerful Irish movies to recommend- both starring Daniel Day Lewis: My Left Foot, and In The Name Of The Father. 👍👍

[@josephcurtisyt]

@@kylereece1979 Thank you for this! That’s awesome it was filmed near where you live!

[@kylereece1979]

@josephcurtisyt Fàilte Romhat- You're Welcome!!☘☘ The town itself, New Ross, was also the Birthplace of JFKs Great Great Grandfather, who left from New Ross's harbor is 1849 during the Potato Famine. Its in County Wexford, the south east of Ireland, and has a lot of history to it. The film doesnt show the main street itself , nor the main riverside where its old port was. This gives it a more intimate, zeroed in setting, centering the focus on the main characters ans creates a look of any smaller village/town at the time there. Cillian Murphy himself starred in an Excellent Irish film- "The Wind That Shakes The Barley". That is set in Ireland in the late 1910s- early 1920s, which was during the War of Independence, the Partition of Ireland itself, and the Fallout into Civil War in the newly formed South. The Daniel Day Lewis film, "In the name of the Father", is a powerful one thats set in Northern Ireland in the 1970s, during "The Troubles". Day Lewis is Outstanding in it, - and like "The wind that shakes the Barley' , it zones in on very impactful times of Irish life and History. 👍👍 Id absolutely recommend those films! As with any historical themed film, or period based film, they can hit home even more so, if you know what was happening in Ireland at the time. I hope you look 'em up and watch them.☘☘👍

[@twononcriticsandacat]

Beautiful movie. Stunning performance by Murphy!

[@rehnumachowdhury3629]

I feel like it might be TOO Irish specific for Americans to fully appreciate it. People should deffo read the book (very very short) before watching.

[@Ukriane]

@@rehnumachowdhury3629 I agree

[@sudeshnapal1832]

True. Irish people said that after watching the film, they either sat in silence or were moved to tears. Americans aren't gonna get it as it's not a story they are much familiar with.

[@josephcurtisyt]

@@sudeshnapal1832 I loved it haha.

[@annettegilbert3715]

Longing to see it but I'm in Australia 😢

[@josephcurtisyt]

@@annettegilbert3715 does it come out soon for you?

[@Ukriane]

This is my review of that movie: The film opens by throwing us directly into the life of Bill Furlong (compellingly portrayed by Cillian Murphy), whose encounter with a young boy collecting sticks initially seems meaningful - yet it remains unexplained. This first interaction sets the tone for a central issue: while the film establishes powerful moments, it often fails to clarify their significance, leaving viewers feeling disconnected and confused. Atmosphere and Visual Strength Visually, the film is impressive. Carefully balanced complementary colors and moody lighting immerse us in Bill's world, reflecting his inner turmoil and hinting at the darkness of his past. Scenes of Bill's hands compulsively washing or him revisiting memories of his harsh childhood create striking imagery. But without deeper context, these symbolic scenes feel fragmented, making the narrative hard to follow and less impactful for those unfamiliar with the source material. Disjointed Flashbacks and Jarring Time Jumps Through frequent flashbacks, we catch glimpses of Bill's difficult youth: a father who offered faint support, a mother who passed away early, and a grandmother who tried to comfort him. Yet these flashbacks appear without clear structure, leaving viewers to guess how they connect to the main storyline. It's as if the film is trying to suggest that Bill's encounters with a certain convent and its intimidating nuns reopen old wounds - but these connections are never explicitly drawn, leaving many scenes feeling isolated rather than cohesive. Themes Miss Their Mark In the present day, Bill uncovers a disturbing reality within the convent that's intended to evoke the grim history of Magdalene institutions. Scenes where Bill meets a frightened girl begging for rescue, or a nun attempting to bribe him with hush money, are unsettling and intense. But while these moments are powerful, the broader moral weight of these themes gets lost in the film's vagueness and confusing structure. It's only in the closing dedication, when we learn that the film is meant as a tribute to the more than 56,000 women and children sent to Magdalene institutions under the guise of "rehabilitation," that the film's true focus becomes clear - unfortunately, this comes too late. Conclusion: Though the acting and visuals are strong, the film's disjointed narrative fails to guide viewers through its heavy themes in a meaningful way. Without prior knowledge of the book, the story feels more like a series of cryptic scenes than a complete and coherent tale. Ultimately, it's the dedication at the end that reveals the film's important message - but by then, much of the emotional impact has been lost. Only 4 out of 10 stars.

[@rehnumachowdhury3629]

You really need to read the book, you missed the plot completely. That was NOT his grandmother. If you don't get the flashbacks the whole thing is meaningless. His 'father' offered support, but couldn't do so openly in that society, and he had no clue who his father was, till that one scene where the penny dropped, once he realized who he was he could decide to break the cycle.

[@Ukriane]

@@rehnumachowdhury3629 Nice information we don’t get during the movie.

[@rehnumachowdhury3629]

@Ukriane I'm trying hard to not to be patronizing, but it's kinda obvious? Doesn't really need to be said. Why would he call his grandmother mrs Wilson? Also the whole bedroom scene, his wife explains the context of who she is and bills family situation.

[@Ukriane]

@@rehnumachowdhury3629 Thank you for your comment. I can understand that those who have read the book might have a different perspective. However, as someone who approached this film purely as a viewer without prior knowledge of the source material, I felt that many aspects of the plot were confusing and underexplained. The film should ideally stand on its own, and when key elements - like the identity of certain characters or the significance of flashbacks - require knowledge from the book to make sense, it creates a barrier for viewers. I believe a good adaptation should be able to convey its themes and character relationships clearly to all audiences, not just to those familiar with the original work. My review was meant to reflect that perspective. For someone who hasn’t read the book, the story felt fragmented, which affected my enjoyment of the film.

[@Ukriane]

@@rehnumachowdhury3629 Thank you for your comment. I can understand that those who have read the book might have a different perspective. However, as someone who approached this film purely as a viewer without prior knowledge of the source material, I felt that many aspects of the plot were confusing and underexplained. The film should ideally stand on its own, and when key elements - like the identity of certain characters or the significance of flashbacks - require knowledge from the book to make sense, it creates a barrier for viewers. I believe a good adaptation should be able to convey its themes and character relationships clearly to all audiences, not just to those familiar with the original work. My review was meant to reflect that perspective. For someone who hasn’t read the book, the story felt fragmented, which affected my enjoyment of the film.

[@mb4310]

Small things like these in theaters NOV 8 GO SEE IT

[@josephcurtisyt]

THANK YOU!