What’s our individual responsibility when we see atrocities happening in our world? That question is the central premise of the new film “Small Things Like These,” which sheds light on Ireland’s infamous Magdalene laundries. Set in a small Irish town in 1985, the film stars Cillian Murphy as Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and father of five girls who discovers that the local convent in his community is forcing the young women in their care to live under inhumane conditions. Cillian joins Tom Power to talk about the film, why he didn't want to portray his character as a hero, and what life has been like for him after winning an Oscar for “Oppenheimer” earlier this year.

00:00 Introduction and the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland
02:00 The character of Bill Furlong and how he sees his character's journey
04:37 On physical performance
05:43 How director Tim Mielants pushed him
06:41 The responsibility of telling an Irish story
08:04 On speaking with survivors
08:31 The emotions of the story
10:09 What motivated him to tell the story
11:47 The power of the film
12:56 On collaborating with Christopher Nolan
14:33 Trust in collaboration
16:12 Winning an Oscar and being slagged (the highest form of affection)
17:35 What changes after winning an Academy Award
19:15 On making interesting work
20:28 Returning to 'Peaky Blinders'
22:14 Irish art at the forefront

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