The Irish drama Small Things Like These starring Cillian Murphy, who recently won an Oscar, will now be available in the U.S., U.K., and Ireland. Lionsgate has acquired the film and will collaborate with Roadside Attractions for its release in North America.
The movie is based on a book by Claire Keegan that was nominated for the Booker Prize and is directed by Tim Mielants. The film was well-received when it debuted in Berlin. In the movie, Murphy plays Bill, a quiet coal delivery driver and loving father in 1980s Ireland.
He discovers some alarming activities at a local convent, led by Emily Watson’s character, Sister Mary, which forces him to face his own past issues. Watson received the Silver Bear award at the Berlinale for her role.
The film is the first from Murphy’s new company, Big Things Films, and is produced with help from Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s company, Artists Equity. Murphy expressed his excitement about Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions bringing the film to viewers and appreciated the support from Artists Equity.
Affleck and Damon mentioned they were immediately interested in supporting the project when Murphy and producer Alan Moloney approached them. They are happy with the film and believe it does justice to Keegan’s book.
The film also reunites director Mielants and Murphy, who previously worked together on the series Peaky Blinders. Enda Walsh, another of Murphy’s regular collaborators, wrote the screenplay. Catherine Magee also serves as a producer.
Adam Fogelson, the chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, praised Keegan’s book and Murphy’s performance. Roadside Attractions’ co-presidents Eric d’Arbeloff and Howard Cohen were impressed by Murphy and Watson’s performances, particularly in a film set in Murphy’s homeland of Ireland.
The deal with Lionsgate concludes the search for a U.S. distributor, which was a challenge due to market conditions requiring specific partnerships for TV rights.
Small Things Like These was published in 2021 and received critical acclaim, including nominations and awards such as the 2022 Booker Prize and the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction. It was also recognized in France and Ireland for its quality. Source
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