Cillian Murphy's 'Small Things' to Open Berlin Film Fest

Cillian Murphy's historical drama „Little Things” is set to open at this year's Berlin Film Festival.

Directed by Tim Millands from a script by Enda Walsh, the film will have its world premiere in competition at the festival on February 15. Based on Claire Keegan's book of the same name, “Little Things Like This” “reveals the realities of Ireland. Magdalen Laundries – From the 1820s to 1996, terrible asylums run by Roman Catholic institutions to reform 'fallen young women', according to its acronym. Keegan previously wrote „Foster,” an adaptation of the Oscar-nominated Irish-language film „The Quiet Girl.”

Elaine Walsh, Michael Fairley and Emily Watson also star in „Little Things Like It.” Murphy plays devoted father and coal merchant Bill Furlong, who during Christmas 1985 „discovers startling secrets and some shocking truths held by his town's convent,” according to a press release.

Murphy also produced the film alongside Alan Moloney for the Big Things Films banner alongside Catherine Magee. Matt Damon and Drew Vinton are also producing, and executive producers include Ben Affleck, Kevin Halloran and Michael Zoe for Artists Equity. Film Nation Entertainment is handling international sales. The film was financed by Artists Equity and Screen Ireland/FIS Ireland and co-produced by Wilder Content in Belgium.

Murphy is currently buzzing as her performance in Christopher Nolan's „Oppenheimer” continues to garner awards. He recently won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama and was also nominated for a SAG Award.

With 'Little Things Like This', Tim Millands tells the story of a man of few words with eyes as clear as the Irish sky. In 'The Quiet Girl', we already sensed Claire Keegan's talent for portraying small, apparently simple characters and making them memorable; here His delicate, rich and understated writing finds an ideal interpreter in Cillian Murphy,” Berlinale artistic director Carlo Satrian said in a statement. „We believe this story, which combines the compassion directed at the most vulnerable and the courage to stand up against injustice, will resonate with everyone. We look forward to releasing this 'quiet' but very exceptional film at the start of Zeitgeist Irland 24, a year-long celebration of Irish culture in Germany.”