Cillian Murphy dubbed ‘astonishing’ in trailer for ‘disturbing’ Irish drama

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After his Oscar-winning turn in Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy’s new film has already attracted huge praise – and the first trailer has only just dropped.

While many are waiting for his return as Tommy Shelby for the Peaky Blinders movie, the Irish drama Small Things Like These has captivated viewers.

The film is set to be a heartwrenching dive into Magdalene Laundries in Ireland, based on a historical fiction novel by Claire Keegan.

Cillian, 48, stars as coal merchant Bill Furlong who discovers there is something strange and sinister occurring at his local convent.

Originally Small Things Like These premiered in February at the Berlin Film Festival to a room of impressed critics – and now fans appear to be equally intrigued.

Despite the shockingly few words spoken by the Irish star in the trailer, his performance has already been dubbed ‘astonishing’ as fans call for another Oscar.

Cillian Murphy in scene from Small Things Like These. He points as he sits at table with two women.
Cillian Murphy has been praised for his role in Irish drama Small Things Like These (Picture: Lionsgate / BACKGRID)

Cillian Murphy in scene from Small Things Like These. He wears beanie hat and leather jacket as he shovels coal out of pit.
He stars as Bill Furlong, a coal merchant, who discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent (Picture: Lionsgate / BACKGRID)

‘Cillian Murphy is on his way to being up there with the likes of Gary Oldman and Daniel Day Lewis. Astonishing actor,’ praised Daniel Peckett on X.

‘As expected, this looks very good,’ added Brigitte Krause as Nora Biette-Timmons shared: ‘I saw this at Berlinale earlier this year and it left me speechless.’

The Talking Scared Podcast joked: ‘At this point, I’d pay to watch Cillian Murphy do the washing up – but this looks quite brilliant. And further proof that there is nothing scarier to put in a film than real, unpossessed, non-demonic nuns.’

‘The thing about Cillian is that you can cover him head to toe in dust and coal and he’ll still be the most beautiful man you’ve ever seen,’ said Alan B.

Many highlighted how monumental it was to see an Irish actor of Cillian’s standing and reach take on this incredibly fraught topic.

Emily Watson as a nun in the trailer for Small Things Like These. She stands in front of candles inside a church.
Chernobyl’s Emily Watson plays one of the nuns (Picture: Lionsgate / BACKGRID)

‘If anyone truly understands what this film is about the magnitude of an Irish actor of Cillian’s ability choosing to do this is actually monumental,’ added Derry.

The Magdalene Laundries were operated for over 200 years by various institutes including the Catholic church and were quietly supported by the government.

Women targeted by these religious groups included sex workers and those pregnant outside of wedlock – even if they were victims of assault.

Victims were reportedly kept in horrific conditions in the asylums and forced to do unpaid labour for laundries and faced abuse, violence, and even death.

In 1993, a mass grave containing 155 bodies was discovered with only 75 deaths registered, prompting a huge outcry.

Cillian Murphy (R) in a scene from Small Things Like These. He is speaking to a co-star and both look away from camera, towards closed door.
Fans are already calling for an Oscar nod for the drama (Picture: Lionsgate / BACKGRID)

Cillian Murphy in Small Things Like These. Close up picture of his face as he enters a house.
Many praise Cillian for platforming the controversial topic (Picture: Lionsgate / BACKGRID)

The Irish government conceded that the estimated 30,000 women were victims of abuse and offered a formal apology in 2013, with reparations in place.

Adapted from the 2021 novel of the same name, Small Things Like These is being produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s company Artists Equity

Cillian also has a producer credit and stars alongside Eileen Walsh, Michelle Fairley, Emily Watson, Clare Dunne, and Helen Behan.

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