Cillian Murphy can act circles around the rest of us. In Small Things Like These, he’s so deep into his portrayal of a weary man burdened by unresolved grief and responsibility that you’ll feel like dragging your feet in solidarity. Murphy’s performance is the emotional anchor of a film that really wants you to live in each heavy sigh and every glance loaded with what isn’t said. You’re not just watching his struggle—you’re invited to clock in with him.
Director Tim Mielants takes “real-time” storytelling to its most literal conclusion here. Instead of cinematic shortcuts, the film makes you endure the grueling march of every long second as Cillian’s character navigates a life full of compromises and quiet desperation. Sure, it might feel like padding the runtime at first, but you quickly realize that’s exactly the point. Mielants wants you to feel every bit of time weighing down on this man—like the extra hours you accidentally clock in at work because you forgot to punch out.
Yet, the plot’s focus on secrets within convent walls hits hard, as it exposes the Church’s abuse and grip over the town’s hush-hush dealings. Cillian’s character is knee-deep in his own trauma, dealing with the emotional aftermath of his mother’s death, lacking a father figure, and struggling to connect with his wife and daughters. He’s not the most emotionally equipped guy for challenging a corrupt institution, which makes his internal battle resonate.
But if you’re waiting for a big showdown—don’t hold your breath. Right when things are about to explode, the film takes a hard left and just… stops. If abrupt endings were the trendy must-have of 2024, Small Things Like These got the memo early. It wraps up with all the eagerness of a middle schooler finishing an essay five minutes before class, leaving you with unresolved tension that’s either a profound artistic choice or a cliffhanger nobody asked for.
In the end, it’s a quietly intense film—one that understands the weight of time and the struggle to stay afloat. If slow-burn meditations on human suffering are your cup of tea, you’ll be right at home here. If not, well, let’s just say you might check your watch once or twice.
