22/23
In 1985, devoted father Bill Furlong uncovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent and discovers shocking truths himself. Cillian Murphy is a fan of the film’s original novel author, Claire Keegan. He recalls reading her novel “Foster” on a train and having to pull his hoodie over his face because he was crying. Eileen Furlong: If you want to make it in this life, there are some things you have to ignore. Dedicated to the more than 56,000 young women who were sent to Magdalen institutions for “penance and rehabilitation” between 1922 and 1998. And the children who were taken from them. Featured in 60 Minutes: Crisis in the Red Sea/Fake Electors/Finding Cillian Murphy (2024). Director Tim Mielants delivers a thoughtful, yet compelling and dark portrait of the corruption behind the Catholic Church and Ireland’s infamous Magdalen Laundries, with a good sense of atmosphere and a rewarding performance from Cillian Murphy. The approach to writing, tone and themes is sensitive but appropriately addressed without coming across as overly dramatic or out of place. Creating a sense of realism of the times and challenges of its subject matter. The camerawork, production designs and direction help establish its setting. That said, Murphy’s performance is good but Emily Watson is as good as ever. Her story is simple but the powerful theme and subject matter highlights its darkness and the true nature of human nature is well explored. Including a good soundtrack, dialogue and an interesting character from Murphy. Some criticism has been made that Murphy’s character was not interesting and that the film should have focused on the Magdalene laundries and the girls. I understand where the views are coming from, but the idea of an ordinary outsider, seeing the dark sides of reality and seeing the truth is also an interesting perspective. We provide what ordinary people are capable of seeing and how it shapes them. Overall, great movie.