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Small Things Like These poster

Small Things Like These

Movie 2024 99 min Drama Last reviewed 2 Sep 2026
Official Rating M ClearAge 14+ Quality ★★★★☆

Our take

Small Things Like These is a PG-13 Irish drama about 1980s Magdalene laundry abuse. Disturbing institutional mistreatment of teen girls drives the story without graphic violence on screen. Mild language and references to drinking appear. Emotional rather than jump-scare frightening. Best for teens ready for serious historical injustice themes

Uplifting themes

Moral courage and speaking up against injustice are the film's core message Bill weighs personal risk against protecting vulnerable girls

Story (may spoil tone)

In 1985, while working as a coal merchant to support his family, Bill Furlong discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent and uncovers truths of his own; forcing him to confront his past and the complicit silence of a small Irish town controlled by the Catholic Church.

What we flagged

Scores are 0–5: 0 means none; 5 means the strongest we flagged in that category.

View all categories

Violence
Sex
Mild
Frightening
Mild
Language
Mild

Details

Violence No violence found in this title

No violence found in this title

Language Mild Occasional mild profanity such as damn in working-class Irish dialogue

Occasional mild profanity such as damn in working-class Irish dialogue

Sex / nudity Mild An affair is referenced indirectly; no nudity or sex scenes expected

An affair is referenced indirectly; no nudity or sex scenes expected

Drugs / alcohol Mild A local man is described as frequently drunk

A local man is described as frequently drunk

Frightening Mild Disturbing convent secrets and a trapped girl create slow-burn dread

Disturbing convent secrets and a trapped girl create slow-burn dread

Self-harm / suicide No self-harm found in this title

No self-harm found in this title

Child peril / abuse Moderate Teen girls held at a Magdalene laundry and hidden mistreatment are cent…

Teen girls held at a Magdalene laundry and hidden mistreatment are central

Bullying / discrimination No bullying found in this title

No bullying found in this title

Gore / death / weapons No gore found in this title

No gore found in this title

Dangerous behaviour No dangerous behavior found in this title

No dangerous behavior found in this title

Eating disorders / body image No eating found in this title

No eating found in this title

Mental health No mental health found in this title

No mental health found in this title

Gambling No gambling found in this title

No gambling found in this title

Grief / bereavement Mild The lead confronts his own motherless past while witnessing community s…

The lead confronts his own motherless past while witnessing community silence

Talk after watching

  • Bill could stay silent and stay safe. What makes standing up hard in a small town?
  • Institutions once hid abuse from families. Who protects kids when adults look away?