IRISH DRAMA: “Small Things Like These.” / “God's Creatures.”

“Small Things Like These” (2024, Hulu) historical drama, directed by Tim Mielants and adapted by Enda Walsh from the 2021 novel by Claire Keegan, based in the infamous Magdalene laundries in Ireland. The Magdalene Laundries, also known as Magdalene asylums, were institutions usually run by Roman Catholic orders, which operated from the 18th to the late 20th century. They were run ostensibly to house "fallen women,” an estimated 30,000 of whom were confined in these institutions.

       Story: Christmas 1985 approaches. Coal merchant Bill Furlong, who is regarded as a fair and hard-working man from the Irish town of New Ross, is a father of five girls. The film basically revolves around Bill, played by Cillian Murphy. 

       “Small Things…” is an example of an exceptional movie that is also painfully boring. In almost all the frames, Bill is on them, forlorn and sad and almost about to commit suicide. Of course, Mr Murphy is an exceptional actor who is famous for that sad-sack face. Even when he's supposed to be angry as in “Peaky Blinders,” he still looks sad. Worked for him indeed in “Oppenheimer.” 

       This film won several awards in Europe, plus 9 nominations in this year's Irish Film and Television Awards in January 2025. Cillian Murphy, Eillen Walsh (as Bill's wife), Zara Devlin (as Sarah, a young woman from the convent), and Emily Watson (as Sister Mary, the Mother Superior of the convent) won or nominated for their performance. Other wins and nominations for the script, cinematography, casting, hair & makeup, and sound. 🎥👍📽

“God's Creatures” (2022, Pluto TV) psychological drama. In a small remote Irish fishing village, Eileen works as a shift manager at the local seafood processing plant alongside Mary whose son recently drowned at sea. A pertinent story involves Sarah, a young woman experiencing marital troubles. At Mark's funeral reception, Aileen's estranged son Brian unexpectedly returns after a lengthy and unexplained move to Australia. Then nerves and intrigue ensue.

       Directed by Saela Davis and Anna Rose Holmer, from a script by Shane Crowley, I can't say this movie is badly-made, because it is not. Fronted by focused, concentrated performance, led by Emily Watson's Aileen, “God's…” drama is gripping, heart-wrenching, and profound. Add the downcast Irish sea and a grayish village, we can't help but feel and fall for the depressing depth. 

       And that's my issue with this movie. Everybody's sad, everything is sad. All sad, including the sea. 🎥💻📽