I think that it is the space,the silences,the unspoken that makes this such a great adaptation of the book and the book such a true reflection of the time and the misogyny and the denial of the time
Saw the film in the US today, loved it! I feel like there's been zero marketing campaign here for it which is a shame. I just happened to see it was playing at the theater near me and saw Cillian Murphy's face on the poster.
The book also talks about the 2 existing religions disappointments that have coexisted in the isle of Ireland and that society economic situation. It has many faces and I hope they are reflected on the movie. PD.English is not my mother language so if I use s different voca of how you would say it, I ask apologies in advanced
I was extremely disappointed in the book in the fact that it tells a story about a traumatic time in Irish life that has not had a lot of depictions in either a cinematic or literary landscape, and it chooses to tell it from the perspective of a man saving a woman. Women were second class citizens because men chose not to stand up, and in most cases propagated the system that oppressed them, so I find it highly disrespectful to not only tell a story about a heroic man, but to have him literally save a woman depicted as nothing more than a victim. If the book had any class it would have given a victim as much page count as a non-existent hero. The Magdalene Laundrys were a failure of a society and to write a book that washes it through a fable of male heroism is fake at best, and willfully ignorant at worst.
I agree that there should be more depictions of this time with a heavy focus on women. But it does have to be said that women and men both propagated the system, both everyday people and the nuns at the laundries. And countless children regardless of sex were also affected. This is a story of one of those children and how he was affected by the laundries. I remember reading that one real story of a boy adopted away to America without the mother's consent and how he and his mother both begged the church to get the records to find each other afterwards and were continuously denied. He died of AIDS and asked to be buried at the convent so that his mother could one day find his grave there. And eventually she did find him, allowed to his dead body at the convent where he was taken from her as a child. So I wouldn't go as far as saying this story is one that shouldn't be told. I do think it is a product of a male-dominated society, and a way to gather distance to the horrors of what happened, seeing them through the lense of one of the children grown up. Making it more palatable for the audiences may give it eyes that otherwise would disregard it. And in the end, he is helping his own mother and through that, himself. One can hope as well that people regardless of gender look at this story, see the trauma of religion it depicts, and essentially want to do better. And that with its (hopeful!) success more depictions will follow that will focus the eye on the stories of the women and how they were affected. (Like The Magdalene Sisters from 2002, also starring Eileen Walsh btw!)
I mean the book was written by a woman, so it feels different that she chose to write from a man's perspective. Vs a man writing from a man's perspective Claire Keegan her self said the theme of the story is someone who has been unwanted was shown kindness and can't help wanting to show the same kindness when he see others who are unwanted What you said is true, very much, but this particular story with the setting it has I think is fine coming from a male perspective because it's showing a man choosing to not shy away from a woman's issue We don't know if he "saves" her, I wouldn't say he did, I think if anything Bill condemned his family to being ostracized by the town at the end more than he saved the girl, but he did help her and show her the same kindness his mother was shown, because it was just right to do Bill certainly probably wasn't seen as heroic when he got home to his wife, but he stepped outside of society conventions to help one person The failure of society happens when we forget empathy and kindness, and the book is about remembering it
I think the point is that, at the time, decent men in Ireland did nothing. Men were responsible for those pregnancies but abdicated all responsibility. The novella/film depicts a man who couldn't save his mother but who would save his own wife or daughters or even a stranger in that situation. The story reminds men that they should've done something to help abused girls and that men should do something to protect and help women in society now.
The aim of this story isn't about a heroic man. Hell, that was never the purpose. It's about everyone's complicity in allowing these atrocities to happen, men and women both. It's about the hold the Catholic Church had back then. Bill was never shown as some kind of hero. It's simply a tale about one's moral obligation of showing kindness to a stranger, just the the way he and his mother were shown by Mrs. Wilson. . I love how the ending leaves it open on what happens afterwards. Will his family suffer for his decision to help this girl? Will it do any greater good or is it just one girl saved? And what is even the fate of this one girl, is she even better outside of the Laundry when the society sees her as a fallen woman? The main point isn't the laundries or this girl he saves, but to point out how those who look away make all the evils possible. Bill makes the decision to not to look away no matter the consequences, and that's exactly the point. It is possible for everyone of us when we see evil winning. No need for more story. Doing the right thing is right, and best in the big picture, no matter the consequences in one specific case.
Typically I’m disappointed in film adaptations, but when I’m impressed, I’m very impressed - a well done one adds depth and layers that increase my appreciation & understanding . I’m convinced this’ll be one of those awesome rare cases. 📖🪱💚
I saw the film earlier tonight. Seeing such a compelling depiction of someone making the decision to be courageous and kind was inspiring. Thank you.
Thank you for choosing my question 🫶♥️
Thanks for submitting it 😃
I think that it is the space,the silences,the unspoken that makes this such a great adaptation of the book and the book such a true reflection of the time and the misogyny and the denial of the time
Thank you for asking my question, though my name is Minna and not Minnain 😂 Great questions from everyone, can't wait to see the film!
Thanks for sending in such a great question, and sorry about the spelling!
Saw the film in the US today, loved it! I feel like there's been zero marketing campaign here for it which is a shame. I just happened to see it was playing at the theater near me and saw Cillian Murphy's face on the poster.
The book also talks about the 2 existing religions disappointments that have coexisted in the isle of Ireland and that society economic situation. It has many faces and I hope they are reflected on the movie. PD.English is not my mother language so if I use s different voca of how you would say it, I ask apologies in advanced
Small things like these in theaters Nov1 UK IRELAND NOV8 NORTH AMERICA Support Cillian's new production!!
I was extremely disappointed in the book in the fact that it tells a story about a traumatic time in Irish life that has not had a lot of depictions in either a cinematic or literary landscape, and it chooses to tell it from the perspective of a man saving a woman.
Women were second class citizens because men chose not to stand up, and in most cases propagated the system that oppressed them, so I find it highly disrespectful to not only tell a story about a heroic man, but to have him literally save a woman depicted as nothing more than a victim. If the book had any class it would have given a victim as much page count as a non-existent hero.
The Magdalene Laundrys were a failure of a society and to write a book that washes it through a fable of male heroism is fake at best, and willfully ignorant at worst.
I agree that there should be more depictions of this time with a heavy focus on women.
But it does have to be said that women and men both propagated the system, both everyday people and the nuns at the laundries. And countless children regardless of sex were also affected. This is a story of one of those children and how he was affected by the laundries. I remember reading that one real story of a boy adopted away to America without the mother's consent and how he and his mother both begged the church to get the records to find each other afterwards and were continuously denied. He died of AIDS and asked to be buried at the convent so that his mother could one day find his grave there. And eventually she did find him, allowed to his dead body at the convent where he was taken from her as a child.
So I wouldn't go as far as saying this story is one that shouldn't be told. I do think it is a product of a male-dominated society, and a way to gather distance to the horrors of what happened, seeing them through the lense of one of the children grown up. Making it more palatable for the audiences may give it eyes that otherwise would disregard it. And in the end, he is helping his own mother and through that, himself. One can hope as well that people regardless of gender look at this story, see the trauma of religion it depicts, and essentially want to do better. And that with its (hopeful!) success more depictions will follow that will focus the eye on the stories of the women and how they were affected. (Like The Magdalene Sisters from 2002, also starring Eileen Walsh btw!)
I mean the book was written by a woman, so it feels different that she chose to write from a man's perspective. Vs a man writing from a man's perspective
Claire Keegan her self said the theme of the story is someone who has been unwanted was shown kindness and can't help wanting to show the same kindness when he see others who are unwanted
What you said is true, very much, but this particular story with the setting it has I think is fine coming from a male perspective because it's showing a man choosing to not shy away from a woman's issue
We don't know if he "saves" her, I wouldn't say he did, I think if anything Bill condemned his family to being ostracized by the town at the end more than he saved the girl, but he did help her and show her the same kindness his mother was shown, because it was just right to do
Bill certainly probably wasn't seen as heroic when he got home to his wife, but he stepped outside of society conventions to help one person
The failure of society happens when we forget empathy and kindness, and the book is about remembering it
I think the point is that, at the time, decent men in Ireland did nothing. Men were responsible for those pregnancies but abdicated all responsibility. The novella/film depicts a man who couldn't save his mother but who would save his own wife or daughters or even a stranger in that situation. The story reminds men that they should've done something to help abused girls and that men should do something to protect and help women in society now.
The aim of this story isn't about a heroic man. Hell, that was never the purpose. It's about everyone's complicity in allowing these atrocities to happen, men and women both. It's about the hold the Catholic Church had back then. Bill was never shown as some kind of hero. It's simply a tale about one's moral obligation of showing kindness to a stranger, just the the way he and his mother were shown by Mrs. Wilson. . I love how the ending leaves it open on what happens afterwards. Will his family suffer for his decision to help this girl? Will it do any greater good or is it just one girl saved? And what is even the fate of this one girl, is she even better outside of the Laundry when the society sees her as a fallen woman? The main point isn't the laundries or this girl he saves, but to point out how those who look away make all the evils possible. Bill makes the decision to not to look away no matter the consequences, and that's exactly the point. It is possible for everyone of us when we see evil winning. No need for more story. Doing the right thing is right, and best in the big picture, no matter the consequences in one specific case.
Typically I’m disappointed in film adaptations, but when I’m impressed, I’m very impressed - a well done one adds depth and layers that increase my appreciation & understanding . I’m convinced this’ll be one of those awesome rare cases. 📖🪱💚
I totally agree. Brilliant brillant