Murphy on SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE

In his recent work, Cillian Murphy has increasingly gravitated towards roles that demand nuanced, introspective performances. SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE, a historical drama set in 1985 New Ross, Ireland, exemplifies Murphy’s approach to character portrayal – a method he describes as “acting in repose.”
In the film, Murphy plays Bill Furlong, a coal merchant confronting the systemic abuse within a local convent. His performance is a masterclass in restrained emotion, with Murphy conveying profound internal conflict through minimal dialogue and powerful, understated expressions.
Murphy’s insights into the character reveal a deep understanding of Irish masculinity during a repressive era. “These men retreated into themselves,” he explains, highlighting the cultural context of emotional suppression. The film’s exploration of the Magdalene laundries – institutions that housed and exploited women until 1996 – resonates deeply with Murphy, who was a child during this period of Irish social transformation.
Shot entirely on location in New Ross, the film embraces authenticity. Murphy and his longtime collaborator Eileen Walsh portray a married couple, with the production using real houses and existing convent exteriors. This approach mirrors Murphy’s acting philosophy of creating space for audience interpretation.
While this film represents a significant recent work, Murphy’s recent filmography has been marked by similarly nuanced performances. His portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s OPPENHEIMER further demonstrated his ability to embody complex historical figures with remarkable depth and restraint.
Murphy’s career trajectory shows a consistent commitment to roles that require profound internal exploration, whether in period dramas, biographical films, or his long-standing collaboration with directors like Nolan in the PEAKY BLINDERS series.
The actor’s approach to performance continues to challenge traditional narrative conventions, prioritizing emotional subtlety over verbal exposition and inviting audiences to engage more deeply with character psychology.
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SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE in theatres Nov 1

SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE arrives in cinemas on November 1, marking another significant milestone in Murphy’s increasingly impressive filmography.
In his latest venture, Murphy, 48, portrays Bill Furlong in a period drama set in 1985 Ireland. The film, which he personally championed, originated during his time on the OPPENHEIMER set, where he pitched the concept to Matt Damon, describing it as “a little bit Manchester By The Sea meets Doubt.” Damon’s production company, Artist’s Equity, later took on the project.
Based on Claire Keegan’s acclaimed novel, Murphy speaks passionately about the adaptation: “Claire’s story was so perfect and magnificent in its brevity and what it captured, and it moved people and I felt for us, it was our challenge to kind of make a film that did justice to the novel. I never would like to be prescriptive about what people take from film. I just hope that they enjoy it and that maybe, maybe it gets them talking.”
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SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE trailer

The trailer for SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE, starring Cillian Murphy in the lead, is out! Directed by Tim Mielants, the historical drama is based on the eponymous novel by Claire Keegan. The trailer shows Murphy as a coal worker, who, while delivering coal across the town, finds dark secrets about a local convent and how it treats its women. While he wants to help the women there, he is also conflicted about revealing the secret as the Church and the convent are important institutions in the small Irish town.
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Michael Fassbender’s cinematic journey is a testament to artistic resilience and transformative performances. While his recent filmography includes both critical disappointments like the video game adaptation ASSASSIN’S CREED and the thriller THE SNOWMAN, Fassbender continues to captivate audiences with his nuanced approach to acting. His latest film, BLACK BAG, directed by Steven Soderbergh, represents a…
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SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE at Berlinale
During the Berlin Film Festival press conference for his newest movie SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE, Cillian Murphy reflected on the “collective trauma” of Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries. Based on the book of the same name by Claire Keegan, the film focuses on the horrific asylums run by Roman Catholic institutions from the 1820s until 1996, ostensibly to reform ‘fallen young women. The story is told through the eyes of Murphy’s devoted father and coal merchant Bill Furlong, who during Christmas 1985 discovers some “startling secrets” kept by his local convent.
SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE Premiere
The SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE World Premiere will take place at the 74th Berlinale, unspooling in the German capital from 15-25 February. The title, taking part in the festival’s main competition, stars Cillian Murphy, Ciaran Hinds, Michelle Fairley and Emily Watson in the leading roles. The Irish-Belgian co-production was penned by Enda Walsh and is based on the book of the same name by Claire Keegan (the writer of FOSTER, adapted into the Academy Award-nominated feature THE QUIET GIRL .
Murphy in SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE
PEAKY BLINDERS hero Cillian Murphy has joined the cast of SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE which is being shot in New Ross, County Wexford. The film will be directed by Tim Mielants of PEAKY BLINDERS fame and producers include Catherine McGee (NORMAL PEOPLE) and Cillian Murphy, who will also star in the main role of Bill Furlong. The film is based on Claire Keegan’s Booker Short-Listed novel, with screenplay adaptation by playwright Enda Walsh.