Cillian Murphy Faces Chilling Secrets in ‘Small Things Like These’ Trailer

The first trailer for Small Things Like These, the film adaptation of Claire Keegan’s acclaimed novella, has been released ahead of its arrival in cinemas this November. The film stars Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy as Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and father who becomes haunted by the dark secrets of a local convent, tied to the Catholic Church’s history of abuse.

Set in the town of New Ross, Co. Wexford, in 1985, Small Things Like These delves into the moral struggles of Bill Furlong as he confronts the horrors hidden inside the local convent. As the holiday season approaches, Furlong finds himself wrestling with not only what he witnesses but also his own unresolved trauma from childhood.

The trailer shows Furlong’s internal torment as he’s warned, “You want to watch what you say, about what’s there,” alluding to the dangerous consequences of exposing the atrocities unfolding behind closed doors. Murphy’s portrayal sheds light on the culture of silence, shame, and oppression that has plagued Ireland’s history.

Inspired by the real-life abuses within the Magdalene Laundries—workhouses run by the Catholic Church where women endured physical and mental mistreatment—Small Things Like These offers a harrowing depiction of one man’s journey to confront both communal and personal suffering. Cillian Murphy, speaking in his natural Irish accent, portrays Furlong as a quiet, soft-spoken figure, almost blending into the coal-stained landscape of his rural town.

His discovery of the convent’s dark secrets compels him to face his own past and challenge the town’s status quo, setting the stage for a conflict that could disrupt the delicate social fabric of his community. As we see in the trailer, Furlong’s struggle with his own morality and grief is captured in haunting shots of him attempting to wash his coal-smeared hands, symbolizing his desperate need to cleanse himself of the past.

The film, which celebrated its world premiere earlier this year at the Berlin Film Festival, has already received critical acclaim. Alongside Murphy, Emily Watson plays Sister Mary and won Best Supporting Performance at the festival. The movie features a strong supporting cast, including Eileen Walsh as Bill’s wife Eileen, Michelle Fairley as Mrs. Wilson, and Clare Dunne as Sister Carmel.

Small Things Like These is produced by Artists Equity, the studio run by Ben Affleck and Murphy’s Oppenheimer co-star Matt Damon and releases November 8 in the U.S., with the film premiering in UK and Irish theaters on November 1.

Watch the trailer for ‘Small Things Like These’

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