Small Things Like These (2024) review

Small business owner Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy), who is a father to five girls, sells coal to the residents of County Wexford in the mid-1980's and reflects on his own unhappy childhood (his mother passed away at a very early age), so when he makes a delivery to a convent run by Sister Mary (Emily Watson), he notices a young woman named Sarah (Zara Devlin) locked in a shed and is conflicted as to how to help her.  Enda Walsh's script, which is adapted from the novel by Claire Keegan, was inspired by the true story of the "Magdalene asylums," where "fallen women" (as well as orphaned children and other "unwanted" individuals) were turned into slaves (this went on until 1996!) ... and "respectable" Bill has to make a decision to go against the powerful Catholic Church and risk his reputation to rescue an individual in need.  Perhaps it's a bit too morose and maybe a little too brooding - Mielants is enraptured by Murphy's sullen expressions - but it's a fair reminder of the importance of empathy and trying to be a decent human being.  Did I mention it's also a Christmas movie?  I bet Bill's wife Eileen (Eileen Walsh) loves the shoes....