Cillian Murphy Exposes Dark Church Narrative in “Small Things Like These”

Key Takeaways:

– Cillian Murphy captivates audiences in “Small Things Like These” set in 1980s Ireland.
– The film, based on an Orwell Prize-winning novel, explores a dark period in the Catholic Church’s history.
– Murphy’s character feels torn between helping a captive pregnant girl and his fear of community ostracism.

Dublin-born actor Cillian Murphy is known for thinking deeply about his roles, and his latest film “Small Things Like These” is no exception. The movie, set in 1980s Ireland, puts Murphy in a challenging situation; torn between the desire to aid a trapped girl and fear of rejection from his community. As a coal and timber merchant, his character – Bill Furlong – stumbles upon a sobbing girl held captive by nuns because she’s unmarried and pregnant.

Murphy’s Journey to the Role

“It’s a character type I can relate to: the silent Irish male deep in thought,” Murphy shares, adding that he identifies with “the novel’s description of Bill as a man who walks with his eyes toward the ground and finds it difficult to make eye contact.” Serendipitously, this was a project where Murphy got an opportunity to work with Tim Mielants, a Belgian director he admired and met while filming his popular Netflix series.

Bringing the Book to the Big Screen

Murphy was surprised to find the publishing rights for this impactful narrative still available. He mentions, “It was a miracle in a way, and meant to be.” Emphasizing the popularity of the book in Ireland as a modern classic, he added, “We knew that, if we were to do it, it needed to upkeep the same space and tone as the book. It required being a silent film.”

Evoking the Dark Side of the Church

The movie invites viewers to experience life in a small Irish village stuck in time, held captive by the Catholic Church’s power. The subjugated silence, hiding pregnant girls from public eye, is poignantly captured by Murphy’s character. Director Mielant’s personal connection to the narrative brought added depth. Mielants noted, “With the Catholic Church, there’s the sense that if you’re silent, you’re complicit.”

The Infamous Magdalene Laundries

Mielants uses this film to shed light on the notorious Magdalene Laundries scandal, a somber chapter in the history of the Church in Ireland. For over a hundred years, “fallen” women were taken in by church officials to rehabilitate through forced labor while also giving up their babies for adoption.

Murphy’s Powerful Performance

Murphy’s powerful rendering of introspection echoes the compelling performances of fellow Irish actors such as Barry Keoghan, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, and Daniel Day-Lewis. When asked about this Irish prowess for acting, Murphy simply stated, “We enjoy telling stories, and who we are as a people is reflected in our storytelling.”

Stirring emotions and creating conversations, “Small Things Like These” is not just a movie; it’s an introspective journey through fear, silence, and truth. This Murphy starrer undoubtedly establishes how sometimes, small things can indeed lead to enormous changes.