Small Things Like These (2024) Review and Where to Download Small Things Like These (2024) SRT Files
Small Things Like These (2024) Review and Where to Download Small Things Like These (2024) SRT Files
Introduction
“Small Things Like These” is a powerful new film that takes us on an emotional journey through 1980s Ireland. Set during Christmas 1985 in County Wexford, it tells the story of Bill Furlong, a coal merchant facing difficult moral choices. The movie shines a light on a dark chapter of Irish history – the Magdalene laundries – while exploring themes of social responsibility and personal courage.
Directed by Tim Mielants and starring Cillian Murphy, this intimate drama has been making waves since its premiere at film festivals. It’s based on the award-winning novella by Claire Keegan and brings her poignant tale to vivid life on screen. As we follow Bill’s internal struggle, the film asks us to consider how small acts of kindness can make a big difference in the face of injustice.
Synopsis
A Coal Merchant’s Moral Dilemma
Bill Furlong seems to have a good life – he runs a successful coal and timber business, has a loving wife and five daughters. But as Christmas approaches in his small Irish town, Bill starts to question the world around him.
While making his rounds delivering coal, Bill discovers a young woman locked in a coal shed at the local convent. This disturbing encounter forces him to confront the open secret of the Magdalene laundries run by the Catholic Church. These institutions imprisoned “fallen women” and their children, subjecting them to forced labor and abuse.
Bill’s own past as the son of an unwed mother makes him especially sensitive to the plight of these women and girls. As he wrestles with what to do, we see flashbacks to his childhood and the kindness shown to him by his mother’s employer.
A Time of Change in Ireland
The 1980s were a time of economic hardship but also social change in Ireland. The film captures this transitional period, showing both the traditional power of the Catholic Church and the first stirrings of resistance. Through Bill’s eyes, we see a community complicit in cruelty through their silence.
As Christmas Eve approaches, Bill must decide whether to look the other way like everyone else or take a stand. His choice will have consequences not just for himself, but for his family and the vulnerable women at the convent.
Character Exploration
Bill Furlong: A Man at a Crossroads
At the heart of the film is Bill Furlong, played with nuanced emotion by Cillian Murphy. Bill is a decent man who has worked hard to build a good life for his family. But he’s also haunted by his own history as the child of an unwed mother in a judgmental society.
Murphy portrays Bill’s inner turmoil with subtle power. We see his growing unease as he realizes the dark truths hidden behind the convent walls. His eyes reflect both compassion for the women and fear of the consequences of acting. Bill’s journey is one of moral awakening, as he grapples with the cost of doing the right thing.
The film gives us glimpses of Bill’s childhood, showing how the kindness of others shaped him. These memories fuel his sense of obligation to help those in need. Yet he also feels the weight of providing for his own family in difficult economic times. Murphy conveys all of this internal conflict with understated grace.
The Women in Bill’s Life
While Bill is the focal point, the women around him play crucial roles in the story. His wife Eileen, portrayed warmly by Eileen Walsh, represents the comforts of home and family. She senses Bill’s unrest but can’t fully understand it. Their scenes together show a loving but sometimes strained relationship.
On the other side are the nuns who run the convent laundry. They embody the harsh authority of the Church, turning a blind eye to suffering in the name of moral righteousness. The head nun in particular serves as a formidable antagonist, challenging Bill’s growing sense of moral duty.
We also see brief but impactful moments with the imprisoned women and girls. Their fear and desperation come through clearly, even in fleeting scenes. These glimpses drive home the human cost of the system Bill is confronting.
Performance Highlights
Cillian Murphy’s Tour de Force
Cillian Murphy delivers one of the finest performances of his career as Bill Furlong. Known for intense roles in films like “Inception” and “Peaky Blinders,” Murphy shows a different side here. His Bill is a quiet man of deep feeling, conveying volumes with subtle shifts in expression.
Murphy makes Bill’s inner journey compelling to watch. We see his growing unease, his moments of doubt and determination. There’s a weary kindness to his interactions with others, hinting at the weight he carries. In key emotional scenes, Murphy’s eyes reveal Bill’s pain and compassion.
It’s a masterfully restrained performance that anchors the entire film. Murphy disappears into the role of this ordinary man facing an extraordinary moral test. His portrayal drives home the idea that heroism often comes in small, everyday choices.
Strong Supporting Performances
While Murphy dominates the film, the supporting cast also shines. Eileen Walsh brings warmth and depth to the role of Bill’s wife Eileen. Her scenes with Murphy feel lived-in and genuine. We sense both the love between them and the gulf of understanding that opens as Bill changes.
Emily Watson makes a strong impression as the steely Mother Superior running the convent. With just a few scenes, she creates a chilling portrait of institutional cruelty justified by faith. Her confrontations with Bill crackle with tension.
The younger actors playing the imprisoned women and girls also deserve praise. They convey fear, desperation and glimmers of hope in brief but crucial moments. Their performances give emotional weight to Bill’s moral struggle.
Direction and Cinematography
Tim Mielants’ Delicate Touch
Director Tim Mielants brings a deft, understated approach to this sensitive material. He lets the story unfold at a deliberate pace, building tension through accumulating details. Mielants trusts his actors and gives them room to inhabit their characters fully.
The film’s visual style reflects its themes of hidden truths and moral gray areas. Mielants and cinematographer Cynthia Vermeulen favor shadowy interiors and muted colors. This creates a somber mood while also suggesting the murky ethical territory Bill must navigate.
Mielants uses silence effectively, letting charged moments linger. The sparing use of music adds impact to key emotional beats. His restrained approach makes the film’s climactic scenes all the more powerful.
Evocative Visuals
The cinematography by Cynthia Vermeulen beautifully captures both the bleak and beautiful aspects of rural Ireland. Scenes of Bill making his coal deliveries show both the harshness of the work and the stark beauty of the landscape.
Interiors are often dimly lit, with characters emerging from shadow. This visual approach echoes the theme of hidden truths coming to light. The convent scenes in particular have an oppressive, claustrophobic feel that puts us in the mindset of the imprisoned women.
Vermeulen’s camera often lingers on Murphy’s expressive face, letting us read the subtle shifts in Bill’s thinking. Wide shots of Bill against vast skies or inside cavernous buildings emphasize his feelings of being a small man up against huge institutions.
Critical Reception
Praise for Nuanced Storytelling
“Small Things Like These” has earned widespread critical acclaim for its sensitive handling of difficult subject matter. Many reviewers have praised the film’s restraint, noting how it avoids melodrama in favor of quiet power.
The Hollywood Reporter called it “a masterclass in understated filmmaking” and praised Murphy’s “career-best performance.” Variety highlighted the film’s “moral complexity” and said it “lands with the force of a hammer wrapped in velvet.”
Critics have also noted how the film connects its historical setting to contemporary issues. The Guardian wrote that it “resonates powerfully with ongoing debates about institutional abuse and societal complicity.”
Some Critiques of Pacing
A few reviewers found the film’s deliberate pacing occasionally slow. The Irish Times, while overall positive, noted that “some viewers may find the tempo trying.”
There has also been some debate about whether the film goes far enough in its critique of the Church. A minority of reviews argued it could have been more explicit in its condemnation of institutional abuses.
Audience Reactions
General audience response has been strongly positive, with many praising the film’s emotional impact. Viewers have connected with Bill’s moral struggle and found the story deeply moving.
Some casual moviegoers have noted that the film requires patience, as it builds its effect gradually. But most agree that the payoff is worth it. There’s a strong sense that the film lingers in the mind long after viewing.
Many Irish viewers in particular have appreciated the film’s honest look at a painful part of their history. It’s sparked discussions about collective responsibility and the courage needed to stand up to injustice.
Conclusion
A Quiet Film with Lasting Impact
“Small Things Like These” may be small in scale, but it leaves a big impression. Through one man’s story, it sheds light on systemic injustice and the power of individual conscience. The film’s restraint makes its emotional moments all the more affecting.
Cillian Murphy’s masterful central performance anchors the movie. He makes Bill Furlong’s inner journey deeply compelling to watch. The strong supporting cast and atmospheric direction create a rich, lived-in world around him.
While addressing dark subject matter, the film ultimately offers a message of hope. It reminds us that small acts of kindness and courage can make a real difference in the face of cruelty and indifference.
A Notable Addition to Irish Cinema
“Small Things Like These” continues a tradition of Irish films grappling honestly with the country’s past. It joins works like “The Magdalene Sisters” in bringing hidden histories to light. But it does so with a unique focus on those who chose to help rather than look away.
The film’s success on the festival circuit and critical acclaim suggest it will have a lasting place in Irish cinema. Its universal themes of moral choice and personal responsibility also give it resonance far beyond Ireland.
As the credits roll, viewers are left with much to ponder. The film invites us to examine our own lives and ask what small things we might do to make a difference. In that way, its impact extends beyond the screen and into the real world.
Where to Download Small Things Like These (2024) SRT Files
For those looking to watch “Small Things Like These” with subtitles, SRT files are available for download. These subtitle files can enhance the viewing experience, especially for non-native English speakers or those who are hard of hearing.
You can find the SRT files for the film at Subtitle Cat, a reliable source for movie subtitles. The direct link to download the English SRT file is:
Download Small Things Like These (2024) SRT here
This SRT file will allow you to add accurate, synchronized subtitles to your viewing of the film. It’s a great way to ensure you don’t miss any of the nuanced dialogue and performances that make “Small Things Like These” such a powerful viewing experience.
The Historical Context: Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries
A Dark Chapter in Irish History
To fully appreciate “Small Things Like These,” it’s crucial to understand the real-world context it draws from. The Magdalene laundries were institutions run by Catholic religious orders in Ireland throughout much of the 20th century. They were ostensibly meant to rehabilitate “fallen women,” but in reality, they often functioned as a form of unpaid forced labor.
Who Ended Up in the Laundries?
Women and girls were sent to these institutions for various reasons:
- Unmarried mothers
- Victims of sexual abuse
- Those considered promiscuous
- Orphans or children of unwed mothers
- Women with mental health issues or disabilities
Many were placed there by their families, while others were referred by the courts or social services. Some entered voluntarily, believing it was their only option in a deeply conservative society.
Life Inside the Laundries
Conditions in the Magdalene laundries were often harsh and oppressive:
- Long hours of unpaid work in industrial laundries
- Strict rules and punishment for disobedience
- Limited contact with the outside world
- Physical and emotional abuse
- Loss of identity (women were often given new names)
Many women spent years or even decades in these institutions, unable to leave or contact their families.
The Scale of the System
At their peak, there were about a dozen Magdalene laundries operating across Ireland. It’s estimated that over 10,000 women passed through these institutions between 1922 and 1996, when the last laundry closed.
Uncovering the Truth
The full extent of what happened in the Magdalene laundries only began to come to light in the 1990s. Survivors’ accounts, journalistic investigations, and eventually government inquiries revealed the systemic abuse that had been hidden for decades.
The Film’s Perspective
“Small Things Like These” is set in 1985, a time when the laundries were still operating but their days were numbered. By focusing on this period, the film shows both the entrenched power of the system and the first stirrings of resistance.
Through Bill Furlong’s story, we see how an entire society could be complicit in this system through silence and looking the other way. The film asks us to consider what it takes for an individual to stand up against such deeply rooted injustice.
Themes and Symbolism in “Small Things Like These”
The Power of Small Actions
A central theme of the film is how seemingly small choices can have profound impacts. Bill’s eventual decision to help may seem minor in the grand scheme of things, but it represents a crucial break from societal norms.
Symbolic moments:
- Bill giving coal to a poor family
- His memories of kindness shown to him as a child
- The climactic choice he makes on Christmas Eve
These “small things” accumulate to show how individual acts of compassion can challenge systemic cruelty.
The Weight of Silence
The film explores how silence and willful ignorance allow injustice to persist. The town’s collective looking away from the convent’s abuses represents a broader societal failure.
Key visuals:
- Quiet, nearly empty streets
- Muffled sounds from behind convent walls
- Characters speaking in whispers or meaningful glances
This atmosphere of silence makes Bill’s decision to speak out all the more impactful.
The Role of Religion in Society
While not anti-religious, the film critically examines how religious institutions can abuse their power. It shows both the central role of the Church in Irish life and the harm done in its name.
Symbolic elements:
- The imposing convent building
- Religious imagery contrasted with scenes of cruelty
- The conflict between Christian ideals and the nuns’ actions
This nuanced portrayal invites reflection on the complex relationship between faith, power, and morality.
Class and Social Responsibility
Bill’s position as a businessman gives him a unique perspective. He’s successful enough to have some influence but not so wealthy as to be removed from his community’s struggles.
Themes explored:
- The economic pressures that make people reluctant to challenge the status quo
- How class affects one’s ability to speak out against injustice
- The moral obligations that come with even modest success
Through Bill, the film asks what responsibilities we have to those less fortunate than ourselves.
The Lingering Effects of Trauma
While focused on Bill’s present-day story, the film also shows how past traumas shape the present. Bill’s own background as the child of an unwed mother clearly influences his actions.
Manifestations of trauma:
- Bill’s recurring memories of his childhood
- The haunted looks of the women in the laundry
- The town’s collective avoidance of uncomfortable truths
This layering of past and present adds depth to the story and connects personal histories to broader societal issues.
The Filmmaking Craft of “Small Things Like These”
Adapting the Novella
“Small Things Like These” is based on Claire Keegan’s acclaimed novella of the same name. Adapting such a short, introspective work for the screen presented unique challenges and opportunities.
How the film expands on the source material:
- Visual development of the town and its inhabitants
- Expanded roles for supporting characters
- Use of flashbacks to deepen Bill’s backstory
The film maintains the novella’s intimate focus while bringing its world to vivid life.
Creating Period Authenticity
Set in 1985 Ireland, the film had to recreate a specific time and place convincingly.
Elements contributing to the period feel:
- Careful attention to costume design
- Use of period-appropriate vehicles and technology
- Subtle references to social and political issues of the time
This attention to detail helps immerse viewers in Bill’s world.
Sound Design and Music
The film’s audio landscape plays a crucial role in building atmosphere and emotion.
Notable audio elements:
- Use of diegetic sound (like coal being shoveled or bells tolling)
- Sparing but impactful use of music
- Moments of profound silence that heighten tension
The thoughtful sound design complements the visual storytelling, creating a rich sensory experience.
Balancing Subtlety and Impact
One of the film’s strengths is its ability to tackle heavy themes without becoming heavy-handed.
Techniques for maintaining subtlety:
- Reliance on visual storytelling over exposition
- Understated performances that hint at deeper emotions
- Use of symbolism and metaphor
This approach allows the film to address difficult subject matter while still leaving room for viewer interpretation.
The Cultural Impact of “Small Things Like These”
Sparking Conversations
Since its release, “Small Things Like These” has prompted important discussions about Ireland’s past and present.
Topics of debate:
- The ongoing process of reckoning with historical abuses
- The role of the Catholic Church in modern Irish society
- Individual and collective responsibility for social justice
The film has become a touchstone for broader conversations about morality and civic duty.
Influence on Irish Cinema
As part of a wave of films addressing Ireland’s complex history, “Small Things Like These” contributes to an evolving national cinema.
Its place in Irish film:
- Continuation of themes explored in films like “The Magdalene Sisters”
- Use of intimate, personal stories to explore broader societal issues
- Showcasing of Irish talent both in front of and behind the camera
The film’s success may pave the way for more nuanced explorations of Irish history and identity on screen.
International Reception
While deeply rooted in Irish history, the film’s themes have resonated with audiences worldwide.
Global impact:
- Strong showings at international film festivals
- Positive reviews from critics around the world
- Discussions about how the story relates to other cultures’ hidden histories
This international appeal demonstrates the universal nature of the film’s core themes.
Conclusion: The Lasting Power of “Small Things Like These”
“Small Things Like These” is a film that lingers in the mind long after viewing. Through its careful craft and powerful performances, it tells a story that is both intimately personal and broadly relevant.
The film’s exploration of moral courage in the face of systemic injustice feels particularly timely. It reminds us that even in dark times, individual actions can make a difference. Bill Furlong’s journey invites us to examine our own lives and ask what small things we might do to stand up for what’s right.
By shining a light on a painful chapter of Irish history, the film also contributes to an ongoing process of national reckoning and healing. It shows how art can play a role in confronting difficult truths and fostering understanding.
Ultimately, “Small Things Like These” is a testament to the power of compassion and the importance of bearing witness. In its quiet way, it challenges us all to be a little braver, a little kinder, and a little more willing to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.
As viewers around the world continue to discover this remarkable film, its message of hope and moral responsibility is sure to inspire many more conversations and, perhaps, even small acts of courage that can change lives.