Steve

2025
Directors: Tim Mielants
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Tracey Ullman, Jay Lycurgo, Emily Watson, Little Simz, and more.

Follows headteacher Steve battling for his reform college’s survival while managing his mental health. Concurrently, troubled student Shy navigates his violent tendencies and fragility, torn between his past and future prospects.

Based on an incredible novel Shy by Max Porter (just from a different POV), and set in the 90s, this story isn’t afraid of asking the most important questions. The answers aren’t comforting at all, and sometimes not complete because they can’t be, but they are unflinchingly honest and often heartbreaking.

Steve (Cillian Murphy) is the head of a boys’ school, placed in an increasingly impossible situation. The story is a one-day vignette of a man fighting not to collapse in on himself as he tries to support his staff and meet each student’s unique needs while also battling demons of his own. Steve’s character wasn’t the focal point of the book, and going into this I was a little concerned about that. I was wondering how it was going to work having this stressed out secondary character lead the cast. It was a powerful performance. Murphy played the role of a man coming apart at the seams and wondering how he’s going to survive it with all the rage, sorrow, compromise, and desperation you’d hope to see in that role. His performance is riveting and it stayed with me even after the credits rolled.

The rest of the cast? The powerful performances from incredible actors like Murphy, Tracey Ullman and Emily Watson drove the film. The talent of the younger cast members including Little Simz and Jay Lycuro were just as incredible and made it unforgettable for me.

The writing was incredible and in reading the book first, the poignance of the film was compounded for me. It was almost more of an immersive experience than a film really, and it wasn’t afraid to take on the toughest topics. Topics that are still very relevant today like addiction, trauma, and just the hopeful audacity of educators. How these heroic folks survive in a world where they care about the students they are educating with dwindling help and support, and often while battle the students themselves. There were moments when I was holding my breath with them when the figurative bombs dropped. The realism and messaging here were stunning and effective.

The entire film was crafted with a deep understanding and love of its characters and it shows in every single frame. The same understanding and love that Steve, Amanda, and Shola had for each student at their school. The ending had me tearing up in an uplifting way, similar to that of Cinema Paradiso.

It’s not an easy watch but its messages are important. I’m grateful to have seen this film and would highly recommend it.

Isy