Small Things Like These (2024)
A quietly devastating Irish drama in which one man's conscience collides with the suffocating silence of a community in thrall to the Catholic Church.
Small Things Like These - Movie Information
- Original Title: Small Things Like These
- Release Year: 2024
- Directed by: Tim Mielants
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Age Rating (US): PG-13
- Runtime: 1h 39m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): November 1, 2024 (United Kingdom - 12A), November 8, 2024 (United States - PG-13), April 30, 2025 (France - 12), November 15, 2024 (India - U/A 7+), April 10, 2025 (Australia - M), March 13, 2025 (Brazil - 12), July 3, 2025 (Mexico), November 28, 2024 (Italy), September 19, 2025 (Spain - 12), December 11, 2024 (South Korea - 12)
- Alternative Titles: Takové maličkosti (CZ), Bunun Kimi Balaca Şeylər (AZ), Pequeñas cosas, grandes secretos (MX), Pequenas Coisas Como Estas (BR), Такі дрібниці (UA), Piccole cose come queste (IT), דברים קטנים כאלה (IL), Kleine Dinge wie diese (DE)
- Production Companies: Artists Equity, Big Things Films, Wilder Content, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland
- Production Countries: Belgium, Ireland, United States of America
Small Things Like These - Plot
In 1985, while working as a coal merchant to support his family, Bill Furlong discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent and uncovers truths of his own; forcing him to confront his past and the complicit silence of a small Irish town controlled by the Catholic Church.
Small Things Like These - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the moral tension of Bill Furlong's world unfold:
If you want to get on in life, there's things you have to ignore so you can keep on.
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Small Things Like These - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Tim Mielants
Main Cast
- Cillian Murphy
- Emily Watson
- Michelle Fairley
- Eileen Walsh
- Zara Devlin
- Clare Dunne
- Helen Behan
- Ella Cannon
- Patrick Ryan
- Peter Claffey
Writers
- Enda Walsh
Producers
- Alan Moloney
- Catherine Magee
- Drew Vinton
- Jeff Robinov
- Matt Damon
Small Things Like These - FAQs
Is Small Things Like These based on a true story?
Small Things Like These is based on Claire Keegan's acclaimed 2021 novella of the same name. While Bill Furlong is a fictional character, the film draws on the real and documented history of Ireland's Magdalene Laundries — institutions run by Catholic religious orders where thousands of women and girls were confined and subjected to forced labour.
Where can you stream Small Things Like These?
Small Things Like These is available to stream on Hulu in the United States. It can also be rented or purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Check JustWatch for the most current streaming options in your region.
What is Small Things Like These about?
Set in a small Irish town in 1985, the film follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man who stumbles upon disturbing secrets hidden within the local convent. His discovery forces him to reckon with his own buried past and the pervasive culture of silence and complicity enforced by the Catholic Church.
What does the ending of Small Things Like These mean?
The ending sees Bill make a quiet but profound moral choice — rescuing a young woman from the convent at great personal and social risk. It is a deliberately understated act of conscience, suggesting that true courage often lies in small, private decisions made against the grain of community pressure and institutional power.
Who are the main actors in Small Things Like These?
Cillian Murphy leads the film as Bill Furlong, delivering a quietly intense performance. The supporting cast includes Emily Watson as the formidable Sister Mary, Michelle Fairley as Mrs. Wilson, Eileen Walsh as Eileen Furlong, Zara Devlin as Sarah Redmond, and Clare Dunne as Sister Carmel.
What is the age rating for Small Things Like These?
Small Things Like These is rated PG-13 in the United States. It carries a 12A rating in the United Kingdom and equivalent ratings in other territories. The film deals with themes of institutional abuse, religious coercion, and moral complicity, making it more suitable for mature audiences.
Who directed Small Things Like These?
Small Things Like These was directed by Belgian filmmaker Tim Mielants, known for his work on the television series Peaky Blinders and Patrick. Mielants brings a restrained, atmospheric visual style to the film, allowing the weight of silence and moral tension to accumulate gradually throughout the story.
How long is Small Things Like These?
Small Things Like These has a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes (99 minutes). Its compact length mirrors the economy of Claire Keegan's source novella, keeping the narrative tightly focused on Bill Furlong's moral awakening without unnecessary digression or padding.
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