Cillian Murphy’s “masterpiece” drama that’s “hard to shake” has just landed on Netflix

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Cillian Murphy’s critically acclaimed film, Small Things Like These, is now available to stream on Netflix, having been added to the service today.

The movie, directed by Tim Mielants and based on Claire Keegan’s 2021 novel, stars Paul Mescal as Bill Furlong, a loving father and coal seller who discovers troubling abuse happening at a nearby convent.

The film takes place during Christmas 1985 and tells the story of Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries. These were Catholic-run institutions that functioned like prisons, where thousands of women deemed to have fallen from grace were forced to work.

In 1985, a caring father discovers a young, frightened girl hiding in a shed. This discovery leads him to uncover hidden truths and long-held secrets within his close-knit Irish town and the local convent.

Cillian Murphy will be joined by a stellar cast, including Eileen Walsh, Michelle Fairley, Clare Dunne, Helen Behan, and Emily Watson.

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I was so excited for this movie when it came out in 2024, and thankfully, it really delivered! Critics seem to agree – it’s currently sitting at a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 124 reviews. I’m so glad people are loving it as much as I am!

The Chicago Sun-Times praised Small Things Like These as a “quietly powerful masterpiece,” and highlighted Cillian Murphy’s performance as understated yet impressive.

According to The Boston Globe, the film features incredibly subtle and memorable performances that stay with you long after the movie ends.

As Walt Whitman once wrote about containing multitudes, the film Small Things Like These is a complex and layered work. According to The Irish Times, it’s a deeply insightful character study, powerfully brought to life by Cillian Murphy’s subtle performance, and reflects a period of significant change in Ireland.

According to Screen International, Cillian Murphy delivers a nuanced performance, portraying a character who appears successful and happy at home, but is secretly burdened by lingering childhood trauma and everyday frustrations.

Rather than focusing on the shocking details of the abuse these young women suffered, the novel Small Things Like These powerfully examines how the town itself enabled and supported the system that allowed it to happen, as noted by The Globe and Mail.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, Small Things Like These is Claire Murphy’s most critically acclaimed drama, second only to her 2023 animated film, Kensuke’s Kingdom.

Small Things Like These is now streaming on Netflix.

The latest issue of Living Legends, a beautifully illustrated 100-page tribute to Sir David Attenborough, is now available! You can find it at newsstands or purchase it online.

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2026-04-28 13:23