Cillian Murphy, an actor, stated that discovering the wrongdoings of the church in 1980s Ireland, known as the “dysfunctional Christian society,” was a shared experience of emotional distress that has not yet been fully dealt with. This statement was made at the premiere of a new film at the Berlin film festival, which focuses on the scandal of the Magdalene Laundries during that time period.
The Oppenheimer star portrays Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and devoted family man who stumbles upon evidence of abuse taking place at a nearby convent in New Ross, located in the southwest area of County Wexford, Ireland.
For over 200 years, women in Ireland were sent to church-controlled workhouses as a consequence for engaging in sexual activity outside of marriage. In these institutions, they were forced into grueling unpaid labor and isolated from the rest of society. The Magdalene Laundries remained unquestioned until 1993, when a shocking discovery of 155 unmarked graves at one of the facilities shed light on the mistreatment of these women.
Murphy stated at a press conference before the film’s world premiere that the revelations had a collective impact, especially for individuals of a specific age. He also mentioned that the processing of this trauma is still ongoing.
Small Things Like These is a film directed by Tim Mielants from Belgium. It is an adaptation of the popular novel by Claire Keegan, also titled Small Things Like These. The book was a hit in Ireland and other countries upon its release in 2020. According to Murphy, it was widely read and he believes that art can serve as a healing remedy for the pain caused by this widespread issue.
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“I find the irony in this book to be the portrayal of a Christian man attempting to uphold Christian values in a dysfunctional Christian community. It raises significant inquiries about publicity, silence, and shame. However, I believe that the role of art is not to provide answers to these questions, but rather to initiate discussions about them. Perhaps it is more digestible than a scholarly or political analysis.”
The movie, which is the first Irish creation to premiere at the Berlin film festival, was transformed into a screenplay by Enda Walsh, an Irish playwright. It was produced by Artists Equity studio, owned by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
“I accompanied Cillian in the New Mexican desert. As I observed him working on Oppenheimer, I shared my amazement with Ben over the phone. A few days later, Cillian expressed his desire to work on his next film. I suggested that we start a studio and asked if he would like us to be a part of it.”
Murphy stars in the film alongside Emily Watson, Michelle Fairley and Eileen Walsh, the last of whom also acted in Peter Mullan’s 2002 drama The Magdalene Sisters, about the same abuse scandal.
Source: theguardian.com
