In “Oppenheimer,” Cillian Murphy embodied the lead character who grappled with profound questions about mortality and fate amid the rush to create the atomic bomb to end WWII.

Now, in his new film “Small Things Like These,” which releases on Friday, Murphy faces an internal struggle.

Adapted from an award-winning novel based on actual events, the story unfolds in 1980s Ireland, where the Catholic Church holds significant influence over the people. Murphy plays Bill Furlong, a quiet merchant who stumbles upon a distressed girl imprisoned by nuns due to her unwed pregnancy, leaving him torn between the urge to help and the fear of being ostracized by his community.

“This character feels familiar to me: the introspective Irish man who often keeps silent,” shares Murphy, 48, known for his contemplative demeanor. “In the book, it describes Bill as someone who often looks down, finding it hard to make eye contact. I relate to that archetype.”

Murphy mentions a fortunate turn of events that led to the screen adaptation of “Small Things.” He had been searching for an opportunity to team up with Belgian director Tim Mielants, whom he met during the filming of “Peaky Blinders.”

When his wife, Yvonne McGuinness, brought up the idea of adapting the 2021 Claire Keegan novel, Murphy was pleasantly surprised to find the film rights were open.

“It felt almost miraculous and like fate,” he reflects. “It had become a contemporary classic in Ireland—everyone seemed to have read it. But we understood that to do it justice, we needed to capture the same subtlety and atmosphere as the book. It had to be a reflective film.”

And that’s exactly what it is. If you’re curious about life in a small Irish village seemingly trapped in another era, surrounded by kind-hearted people intimidated by local church authorities, “Small Things” is a must-see. Murphy’s portrayal of the reserved protagonist poignantly illustrates how the church kept the villagers silent while they concealed unwed mothers brought to them by ashamed families.

Mielants also felt a deep connection to the narrative, though he prefers to keep the specifics private. “There’s a recurring theme of grief that resonates with me, and I find it impactful to explore,” he explains. “It’s like I’m addressing my own experiences of trauma alongside Cillian. With the church, there’s always a feeling that silence equals complicity.”

Mielants notes that similar accusations have arisen against Belgian Catholic officials for coercing women into giving up their children for adoption. However, the situation in Ireland has attracted the most attention as many young women were revealed to have lived—and often died—within what could be described as imprisonment by the church.

What were the Magdalene Laundries?

In 1993, a mass grave was uncovered at a convent laundry just outside Dublin, igniting a scandal now known as the Magdalene Laundries. For more than a century, so-called “fallen women” were sent to church authorities across Ireland, supposedly to be rehabilitated through forced labor, while their children were put up for adoption.

In many of these Irish communities, those who suspected wrongdoing mostly remained silent. Mielants expressed his eagerness to have Murphy “explore the depths of silence’s impact. You can observe denial, anger, paranoia, and acceptance. What’s visible is just the tip of the iceberg, but it’s the intricate layers beneath that tell the true story.”

Murphy delivers a compelling performance that evokes equally powerful portrayals from fellow Irish actors, including Barry Keoghan (“The Banshees of Inisherin”), Saoirse Ronan (“Lady Bird”), Colin Farrell (“In Bruges”), and the legendary Oscar winner, Daniel Day-Lewis (“Lincoln”).

So What is it about the water in Ireland that produces such extraordinary individuals?

Murphy chuckles softly in response. “People often ask me that, and honestly, I don’t have a clear answer,” he admits. However, he does offer some insight.

“Have you ever visited a cozy pub in a remote Irish village? If so, you’d notice that it’s a gathering spot where folks share stories, and storytelling is at the heart of who we are as a culture,” he explains. “This tradition likely stems from our historical experiences, including the influence of the church, the impact of colonization, and the struggles during the Great Famine and subsequent emigration.

“While I can’t definitively answer your question, I can say that we have a knack for storytelling.”