25/11/2024
My âoff the cuffâ review of âSmall Things Like Theseâ, starring Cillian Murphy, Eileen Walsh and Emily Watson.
This film is quiet. It starts off slow, and to be frank, I wasnât quite sure as to where it would go but it is made clearer as soon as Cillian Murphyâs character âBillâ delivers coal to the nunnery and sees a daughter beg her mother to not send her there. From this scene, it becomes apparent that there will be a confrontation between the nuns and Bill. The next âstepping stoneâ as it were in this specific regard is when Bill goes into the laundry to settle an invoice which is when the film first moves to the interior of it.
The film moves back and forth, Billâs family to the laundry and his childhood which is shown through flashbacks which begin to occur during his ritual of cleaning his hands practically raw before going in to see his family each evening after work.
Throughout the film, the subtle tension between Bill and his wife grows as they barely talk to each other properly, both in their own denial and resignation of acceptance about the impact and control the nuns have over their lives, their familyâs lives and the town overall. The tension comes to a head when they go to bed one evening and begin to actually, (for the first time in a long while it seems), acknowledge each other and contemplate their own feelings as well as each others.
About two thirds of the way through the film, Bill finds the same girl from earlier in the coal shed and takes her in to the laundry, which therein leads to the small âcrescendoâ of the film, the meeting between the Mother Superior, who is tactfully played by Emily Watson. The dialogue overall, but most specifically in this scene is indescribably celestial, (pun intended there), it hits all the right notes. It is cinematic and yet it feels heinously realistic.
As my opening sentence stated, this film is quiet. It is one to watch on a rainy grey day. It is not a film for the popcorn and the hubbub of chatter. It is a film to sip a small hot drink reassuringly as the film builds your anxiety and anticipation up, brick by brick.
It is worthy of praise and recognition. The ending is ambiguous in a way. It ends where the story actually begins. Itâs almost like the film depicts the first 2 chapters of the book, leaving the big climax to the viewers imagination. Now this is really well done and I respect and admire the film for having the end let everything hang in the metaphorical air, leaving the viewer to question various aspects of the film, the characters, the modus operandi etceteraâŚ
However the one question that left a dissatisfied taste in my mouth is about Billâs childhood. Throughout the film, Bill barely says a word - he is quite probably the personification of the phrase âactions speak louder than wordsâ. He is clearly traumatised by the one event that is shown in the flashbacks to his childhood, but in my opinion, the flashbacks donât feel as believably traumatising for Bill to be as badly affected in his later life. It makes me think that there must be something more to his childhood for his behaviour in the future. This is the only question I wanted more of an affirmative answer to - it didnât need to be completely answered - I just wanted a smidge more clarity.
The cinematography should also get a mention. It is beautifully shot and I do mean beautifully, even the laundry is shot beautifully. The cinematography holds the film from veering off into horror or psychological thriller territory.
It is hard to describe the lengths and depths that this film goes to. There is more to this film than the ânunsâ. It goes into detail about the affects on a family and how the two intersect with each other.
All in all⌠it is a hushed and humbling film to be experienced. If you can, go and see it.
Film Age Rating: 12A
Trailer:
Small Things Like These- watch trailer now. In theaters November 8th, starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Watson, Michelle Fairley, and Eileen Walsh.Subscribe to ...
