Is Small Things Like These just another artsy-fartsy Cillian Murphy film? Well, mostly.

The film focuses on Bill Furlong, a coal merchant who discovers dark secrets in the local convent. Pregnant women and girls are treated poorly by nuns in a sadistic environment of cruelty and carelessness. A quiet but sensitive soul, discovers this by accident. The film follows his actions thereafter.

There is an overall oppressive atmosphere within the film, following themes of disconnected families, abuse and bullying.

But fear not, for there is a happy ending. At 93 minutes long, there is a lot of unraveling that needs to take place before this ending is given.

With an old film feel to it and its incredible performances, it is no surprise that this drama been given critical praise in film festivals.

Regarding the visuals, the gritty soul of the film is shown through a soft lens. There is a genuine ache I feel when peeling back the layers of the actors performances, from the double takes of Bill’s wife and Bill’s gasps for relief, the acting is superior to most films being shown in the cinema today.

Warm colours collide with cold moments, just as Bill Furlong’s (Cillian Murphy) sensitivity collides with the harsh world around him. His character is tragically human, fearing the cruelty of the world yet fearing the consequences of changing it.

However, I am wary of falling into the artsy trap of calling this a masterpiece. Film critics sometimes fail to understand that unless you are a surveyor of the arts, you are not immediately interested in the deeper meaning or colour palette of a film.

Thus, I will critique the film based on the face value. This is what matters to most movie-goers, after all.

The storyline is made evident soon enough, although audiences who do not enjoy slow burns will certainly struggle to stay interested

It does inspire thought, albeit through seemingly disjointed flashbacks and interactions throughout. Unfortunately, the disjointed nature of these occasionally boarders on incoherent.

Thematically speaking, I feel Small Things Like These could have done better if condensed into a short film. However, the long-form storytelling is done with beautiful cinematography and incredible acting. It kept me interested, although I do wish more happened.

The storyline was minimalist, which comes with its own disadvantages. The advantages are that audiences can focus more on the acting, visuals and subtle reveals of a character’s inner turmoil. But if you’re watching a film for the sake of watching a film, this might bore some.

The ending is appreciated, and for a whole two minutes, I felt uplifted.

Much like the coal Bill supplies, this is a slow burn that fails to warm the heart. Still, Small Things Like These is visually beautiful and a masterclass in understated acting.