I was reminded of a friend who once owned a gay bar in Dublin; I remember being there the day marriage became legal in Ireland. One of the women celebrating shared a disturbing story about her childhood experiences with nuns in the 1970s—a tale of people utterly lacking in empathy. This film takes up that same kind of criticism, presenting what feels like a religious institution not unlike a Dickensian workhouse. The narrative unfolds through the eyes of local coal merchant "Bill" (Cillian Murphy), who lives with his wife and five daughters in a small town in Wexford. Money is scarce for many, some resorting to collecting wood just to heat their homes. Bill’s family fares relatively well, and everyone looks forward to a pleasant Christmas together. He provides coal for the local convent-orphanage where young women are sent when they become pregnant outside of marriage, and it's there he finds a frightened girl trapped in the coal shed. Wondering how she ended up locked in, the story then shifts its focus to not only the brutality that existed but also to the complex and controlling nature of a church that wouldn’t tolerate any opposition. If you want an uncomplicated existence, it’s best to stay silent. However, he finds himself reflecting on his own childhood—a time marked by tragedy, kindness, a hot water bottle, and jigsaw puzzles. "Bill" is a man wrestling with difficult thoughts as his conscience rejects the compromises that even his wife (Eileen Walsh) might find acceptable given what he’s seen. This film operates effectively using restraint, with minimal dialogue and a pervasive sense of oppression that's powerful in its simplicity. The setting creates an atmosphere of threat more effectively than any horror movie could, but it is indeed horrific—a depiction of cruelty in its most quietly devastating form. Murphy delivers a remarkable performance, allowing his character to draw us along as we witness events unfold that feel like they belong in 1885, yet are happening in 1985. It’s not an easy film to watch, but it's certainly worth investing ninety minutes into.

Source on TMDB