Small Things Like These (2024)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Things Like These is a historical drama which premiered in 2024.

 

The topic of this drama is the history of Ireland in the second half of the twentieth century with special focus on the Magdalene Laundries.

 

Here is some basic information about this drama

 

** Director: Tim Mielants

** Writer: Enda Walsh

** Based on the book Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (2021)

** Run time: 98 minutes

 

The cast includes the following:

 

** Cillian Murphy as Bill Furlong - a coal merchant

** Louis Kirwan as young Bill

** Eileen Walsh as Eileen Furlong – Bill’s wife

** Michelle Fairley as Mrs. Wilson

** Emily Watson as Sister Mary - Mother Superior of the local convent

** Clare Dunne as Sister Carmel

** Zara Devlin as Sarah - a young girl from the local convent

 

What do reviewers say about this drama?

Here are some answers:

 

** 68 percent = IMDb

** 82 percent = Meta

** 81 percent = Rotten Tomatoes

** 94 percent = Rotten Tomatoes

 

As you can see, the ratings are very high and very positive. Are the high and positive ratings justified? 

 

The answer depends on who you ask. 

In my opinion, the answer is no.

What is wrong?

This historical drama has several flaws.

Let me explain:

 

# 1. The chronology

There are two timelines in this drama. The first timeline (the main story) is set when the main character Bill Furlong played by Cillian Murphy is in his 30s. The second timeline is set in the past when Bill is a young child.

 

Where are we in time?

 

This question is not easy to answer, because the director never tells us.

 

An on-screen message could have been used to tell us when the main story takes place and when the second timeline takes place. But there are no on-screen messages to tell us where we are in time.

 

There are two hints.

 

The first hint:

In the beginning of the movie, we can hear a voice on the radio. The voice is talking about the famous Irish boxer named Barry McGuigan (born 1961) who was a champion around 1985.

 

The second hint:

When Bill enters the local pub, we can hear a song on the radio. The song is Come on Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners which was released in 1982.

 

Apparently, the main story is set in 1985. But why do I have to guess when it takes place?

 

Why not use an on-screen message to say:

 

New Ross, Ireland, 1985

 

In the main timeline, Bill Furlong is an adult who is 39 years old. In the second timeline, he is around twelve years old. This means he was born in 1946. This means the second timeline is set in 1958. But why do I have to guess when it takes place?

 

Why not use an on-screen message to say:

 

New Ross, Ireland, 1958

 

The movie flips back and forth between the two timelines.

 

When flashbacks are used in a historical drama, it is important that the viewers can understand what is happening.

 

Sadly, this is not easy in this case. There is nothing to tell us that the director is operating with two timelines.

 

There is nothing to tell us when a flashback to the past (1958) begins and ends.

 

# 2. The style

The movie is slow-paced with a dark and somber tone. Images are subtle. It is not always easy to know what we can see on the screen. It not always easy to know what it means.

 

# 3. The lack of detail

There is almost no information about what is happening inside the Magdalene Laundry.

 

We are not told:

** Why the young girls are placed there

** How long the young girls have to stay there

There are no details about the conditions inside the Magdalene Laundry

 

# 4. The focus

In this drama, the main character is a man named Bill Furlong who is watching the local Magdalene Laundry from the outside.

 

The focus is on Bill and his feelings. There is nothing about the young girls inside the Magdalene Laundry and their feelings.

 

# 5. The ending is abrupt

At the end of the drama, Bill rescues a young girl named Sarah from the Magdalene Laundry and brings her to his home.

 

What happens next? What does this mean for Bill and his wife and their daughters? How will this affect his business and the position of his family in the town?

 

There is no information. The movie ends when Bill brings Sarah to his home.

 

Sarah has been rescued. But is she safe? Has she really been saved? What will happen to her?

 

Will Bill’s family support his decision to bring the young girl to his home?

 

Can Bill and his family survive in the town after his rescue operation?

 

Will the local authorities bring Sarah back to the Magdalene Laundry?

 

Questions such as these are not explored because of the abrupt ending of the movie.

 

Conclusion

I do not understand the numerous positive reviews. I do not agree with them. In my opinion, this historical drama is highly overrated.

 

It is neither great nor good. It is just average. I think it deserves a rating of three stars (60 percent).

 

REFERENCES

 

# 1. Film and video

 

Ireland’s Dirty Laundry

This documentary film premiered in 2022

 

The Magdalene Sisters

This historical drama premiered in 2002

 

# 2. Books

 

The Light in the Window

By June Goulding

(1999 = hardcover)

(2005 = paperback)

 

Banished Babies: The Secret History of Ireland’s Baby Export Business

By Mike Milotte

(2012)

 

Whispering Hope:

The True story of the Magdalene Women 

By Nancy Costello and others

(2016)

 

*****

 

Ireland's Dirty Laundry

A documentary film

(2022)

 

*****