Cillian Murphy is a fan of the original writer of the film’s novel, Claire Keegan
Scenario
In 1985, devoted father Bill Furlong discovers disturbing secrets held by the local convent and reveals shocking truths about himself. He remembers reading her novel “Foster” on a train and having to pull his hood over his face because he was crying. Eileen Furlong: If you want to get ahead in this life, there are things you have to ignore.
Featured on 60 Minutes: Crisis in the Red Sea/Fake Electors/Finding Cillian Murphy (2024)
What director Tim Mielants delivers is a brooding yet compelling and dark portrait of the corruption behind the Catholic Church and Ireland’s infamous Magdalene Laundries, peppered with a fine sense of atmospheric setting and an enriching performance by Cillian Murphy. The writing, tone and themes are sensitive but appropriately addressed without feeling overwrought or out of place. Creating a sense of realism of the time period and the challenges of its subject matter.
Including good music, dialogue, and an interesting character from Murphy
The camerawork, production designs, and direction help to establish the setting. As mentioned, Murphy’s performance is good, but Emily Watson is as good as ever. Her simple narrative, but powerful theme and subject matter carry its bleakness and the true nature of human nature is better explored.
Overall, a great film
Some criticisms have been made that Murphy’s character was not interesting and the film should have focused on the Magdalene Laundries and the girls. I understand where the perspectives come from, but the idea of an ordinary outsider seeing the dark sides of reality and seeing the truth is also an interesting perspective. We are given what ordinary people are capable of seeing and how it shapes them.