Parents' Guide to Small Things Like These

Parents need to know that Small Things Like These is a powerful Irish drama about the abuse of young girls by members of the Catholic Church in 1980s Ireland, known as the Magdalene Laundries scandal. The film is as much about the inability to prevent the abuse from happening—such is the power the Church held over the community—as it is about the wickedness of the nuns at the local convent. Although much of the abuse is unseen, a girl is shown being forced into a convent. Girls are also seen being made to sleep in an outdoor barn in the middle of winter, on a bed of coals. The physical and mental effects of the abuse are also depicted. Moment of self-harming when a young boy uses icy water to inflict pain upon himself. Main character Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy) is admirable, albeit in an understated way. He is dealing with his own trauma, but shows great empathy and courage in his bid to save a young woman from the nuns' abuse. Name-calling includes "dope" and "brat," and there is also use of "Jesus Christ," "damn," and "God." Brief reference to alcoholism. The movie is based on a best-selling novel by Claire Keegan.

To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .