Credit: Netflix

If you’re someone who falls for Cillian Murphy’s Irish charm every single time, like the very first time, then there’s good news for you. Hot on the heels of the highly anticipated sequel, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, the Oscar-winner is now set to return to Netflix with one of his most transformative stints of all time in Small Things Like These.

Scheduled to arrive later this month on April 28th, Small Things Like These is not exactly the kind of film that relies on explosions or massive plot twists to leave an impact. Instead, it stays with you long after the credits roll as Murphy breathes life into a character grappling with his conscience.

Over the years, Cillian Murphy has portrayed many personas, including a Birmingham mobster, the father of the atomic bomb, and ruthless supervillains. But in Small Things Like These, he plays Bill Furlong, a quiet coal merchant in 1980s Ireland.

Much of the action takes place through his eyes and in the way he carries himself. So, if you like character-driven dramas where silence speaks louder than dialogue, this should be a must-watch on Netflix.

Directed by Tim Mielants, Small Things Like These is a historical drama based on Claire Keegan’s 2021 novel that sheds light on the Magdalene Laundries. For those uninitiated, Magdalene Laundries were institutions run by Roman Catholic orders in Ireland that “housed” women who had fallen out of favour with society.

The film unflinchingly highlights the complicit silence of a small town that knows something is wrong, but is too afraid to acknowledge or speak up against the Church. Small Things Like These offers a haunting look at how systemic injustice evolves into normalcy when good people look away, desensitising widespread discrimination.  

In addition to the gripping premise and Murphy’s masterclass acting, it’s the cinematography that elevates the cinematic experience. It perfectly does justice to the setting, capturing the bleak, damp, grey, and biting cold of an Irish winter, against a building sense of tension and isolation, mirroring the protagonist’s inner struggle.

The emotional historical drama had its world premiere at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival in 2024, and was later released in select theatres in Ireland and the United Kingdom. So, it’s highly likely that much of the audience is yet to tune into it.

But considering Small Things Like These boasts a whopping 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, its arrival on Netflix will be undoubtedly welcomed with open arms. Hence, if you’re seeking something thoughtful to keep you company this April, this might be the last stop for your search.