Matt Damon has revealed that he first got wind of the new drama ‘Small Things Like These’ while working on the set of ‘Oppenheimer’, a film by Christopher Nolan, opposite Cillian Murphy.
According to Damon, Murphy spoke to him about the upcoming film and Damon, who was building a new studio with Ben Affleck, expressed interest in being a part of the project.
This announcement was made during a press conference at the Berlin Film Festival, where ‘Small Things Like These’ is acting as the festival opener. Murphy not only stars in the film, but also produces it. The period drama is based on the novel of the same name by Irish writer Claire Keegan, set in a small Irish town in 1985 in the weeks before Christmas, touching on the real history of the Magdalene Laundries.
The film’s production by Affleck and Damon’s Artists Equity banner is in line with their vision to give more creatives, especially those below the line, an equity stake in a film. The decision to produce ‘Small Things Like These’ was easy because of the people involved in it, said Damon, praising the artists dealing with the trauma in the film.
When asked about the challenges in making a small intimate drama like ‘Small Things Like These’, Damon emphasized the need for trust in the audience and insisted that it doesn’t pander to the viewers. He expressed hope that there is still an audience in the world that cares about cinema and appreciates such movies.
The film has been selling out of Berlin’s European Film Market and has received much attention. When questioned about what the film means for Ireland, as the nation still grapples with the trauma of the events depicted, Cillian Murphy expressed that the film offers a useful balm for the collective wound. Director Tim Mielants added that the film is about grief and structuring the pain of grief.
‘Small Things Like These’ also stars Emily Watson, who expressed her belief that her role in the film marks one of the great days of her acting life. She described her character’s actions in the film as an embodiment of the very worst of what humanity can be.
The cast and team behind ‘Small Things Like These’ have certainly created a stir, and their passion for the project is palpable. This film is definitely one to keep an eye out for, as it promises to be a poignant and powerful portrayal of a dark chapter in history.
