Rachel Reviews: Small Things Like These (dir. Tim Mielants)

A sinus head. A rest on the sofa. Not bad enough a head to warrant going to bed but painful enough to make me want to stay very still. And so, it was movie time again. I was in the mood for a quiet story and it seemed like Small Things Like These had good reviews so I thought I would give it a go.

Based on a book of the same name written by Claire Keegan, it deals with the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland where girls who found themselves in "the family way" were sent to have their babies away from the shame of public scrutiny, their babies then being reassigned to needy parents elsewhere by the nuns in charge.

Despite the subject matter, which there is no doubt is traumatic, this is a thoughtful film. It follows a man who lives in a small Irish town, working as a coalman. He has a house full of girls, which with its noisiness and bustle, contrasts enormously with his solitary days driving and delivering coal to local houses and businesses.

The film builds up a picture of William's life as it is in the present but then, we start to see his childhood in flashback. The film direction switches between the two and as more and more memories of his childhood emerge from whatever dark place of suppression he was keeping them subdued, we see him sitting thoughtfully, becoming more introspective. It is an encounter that sparks this unearthing of his past, a chance observation which snags William when he sees it, it being the hook that penetrates his psyche and fishes out an awareness of the way things are of which he is reluctant to let go or to condone.

Is there something in his family history that would hint to him that there are similarities between the girls in the laundries and his own personal story?

This is a quiet film. It's a character study in many ways as well as a condemnation of the Catholic Church (in particular, nuns) which, as its power has waned, has allowed filmmakers and novelists alike to take a microscope to survey practices that were previously deemed essential, the "right" thing to do, but have since been discovered to be pretty much devoid of any Christian compassion.

It is very grey - pathetic fallacy in action - with rain and oppressive cloud taking front stage. This is a reflection of William's state of mind as he sees more and more the darkness of life around him and the restrictions and misery placed on young girls.

It is also about the confliction that he feels in challenging what he knows is an inhumane practice but is he a man with the courage to confront the status quo? Nuns are powerful within communities, holding a lot of money and sway over the people around them - influencing school intake, reputation, workflow. Is he prepared to make himself a pariah?

Cillian Murphy is excellent as William, a timid man really but one with a strong sense of what is right and wrong. Emily Watson plays Sister Mary brilliantly too - small woman but the wimple is a mighty accessory!

And whilst I may have painted a bleak picture of this film, it is actually quite an uplifting watch, presenting as it does through one man's story, a country transitioning from an oppressive past into a more secular future which hopefully will result in a less judgemental approach to what would certainly be viewed as female transgressions.

And maybe the nuns will be more like the ones in 'The Sound of Music".

Rachel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars