Murphy is a huge fan of this film's original novel writer Claire Keegan. He remembers reading her 2010 novel Foster on a train and having to pull his hoodie over his face because he was crying so hard.
While Murphy was discussing working with Peaky Blinders (2013) director Tim Milantz, Murphy's wife suggested that the novel "Small Things Like These" be made into a film. He didn't expect it but called the agency and was told it was possible. He says, "I went, 'No, you've got to be f**king kidding.'" Murphy pitched the idea to Matt Damon (Oppenheimer co-star), who has set up a studio with Ben Affleck. "From there it all just happened really quickly."
The film is based on Claire Keegan's historical novel, "Small Things Like These," published in 2021. And in 2022, it was nominated for the Booker Prize and the Las Bones Folio Award. It also won the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction, the Ambassadors' Prize for best Irish novel published in France, and The Kerry Prize for Irish novel of the year.
Opening film at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival
The cast includes one Oscar winner: Cillian Murphy, and two Oscar nominees: Emily Watson, and Ciarán Hinds.