Film Review: You won't forget Steve any time soon!
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is an intense, character-driven drama that focuses on one single, disastrous day in the life of a head-teacher in a boys’ reform school, who is pushed to his limits in trying to care for his students, while also struggling with his own mental health.
Directed by Tim Mielants and starring Irish actor Cillian Murphy in the titular role, the film is a ferocious and unyielding exploration of trauma, addiction and disaffected youth. Adapted from the 2023 best-selling novel, by Max Porter who has also written the screenplay, may be an uncomfortable watch for some, but a necessary watch for most.
With powerful performances and a heart-wrenching story this is a film that deserves our attention.
While the original source material focused on young student Shy as its main character, here Max Porter has reworked his novel into a screenplay that positions headteacher Steve as the main character of the story.
From the opening scene it is painfully clear that Steve is a man fighting a losing battle with his inner demons. Walking into frame with the weight of the world on his shoulders, he attempts a smile before his face crumbles with agonised despair. This opening scene alone was enough to sell me on the film’s potential and what followed did not disappoint.
Having spent years pouring his soul into his role as headteacher of Stanton Wood, a last-chance boarding school for young offenders, Steve has fostered a deeply rooted and almost paternal connection with his students. When he is faced with the crushing news that the school has been sold and will soon close, leaving these young men with no support network, Steve’s world and psyche begins to fall apart.
As the story unfolds, we learn more about Steve’s professional and personal turmoil as he scrambles to run a school that has been abandoned by the institutions it relies on. Meanwhile, troubled student Shy is fighting a similar battle as he struggles to come to terms with his violent tendencies and his fragile self.
Though Steve is desperate to reach out to Shy and assure the young man he is not alone, both men find themselves increasingly isolated in a world of mental turbulence.
Murphy’s performance in this film is quite simply astounding and once again deserving of every award nomination. Though he is no stranger to playing characters suffering from trauma, he has somehow managed to avoid recycling performative techniques or repeating characteristics from previous roles.
Watching the dishevelled Steve carry himself with world-weary weight, I could see no trace of hardened gangster Tommy Shelby, or father of the nuclear bomb, Robert Oppenheimer. In , Murphy has brought an entirely new character to life that could not be more antithetical to his previous roles.
While Murphy’s performance threatens to steal the whole movie, his supporting cast rise to the challenge of acting opposite an Oscar-winner and absolutely succeed.
Jay Lycurgo is exceptionally impressive in his role as Shy. Striking a perfect balance of volatile anger and heart-breaking vulnerability, he creates a multi-layered character whose internalised agony pours out of the screen. Though I have not seen any of Lycurgo’s previous work, his performance could very likely receive numerous awards nominations and there can be no doubt the young actor has a bright future ahead of him.
Around Murphy and Lycurgo, the rest of the ensemble also offer excellent performances. Shy’s fellow students are all brought to life with fascinatingly complex personalities that make each student feel brilliantly relatable and human. Tracey Ullman brings a steely strength to her role as deputy headteacher, Amanda, while Emily Watson turns in a quiet, yet effective performance as school therapist, Jenny.
There is not a single weak link in this cast. Every actor brings their all to the role, making for a truly immersive experience, as the audience gets lost in the chaotic corridors of this school.
Belgian director Tim Mielants has once again collaborated with Murphy in taking on this film. Having worked together on the third series of , Murphy and Mielants quickly established a very positive working dynamic that saw the two reunite for last year’s beautifully restrained .
Now the actor-director duo continues to produce profound character drama in Steve. Mielants’ directorial style is less obvious here as he tries some new techniques to pull the audience into the characters’ world.
While every element of Small Things Like These was subdued and understated, Steve is delivered with more frantic frenzy. In many instances the camera spins wildly around the scene, matching the rambunctious energy of the students.
While this approach may be jarring at times, it is hugely effective in capturing the atmosphere of the characters’ environment.
As stated previously, I believe Steve will be a necessary watch for many people. In its brief ninety-minute runtime, it manages to find enough time to deal with complicated themes of unresolved trauma, addictions and the value of life. While these all may sound like tired and unoriginal ideas, not many films are able to showcase these themes in the raw and unbridled fashion that Steve does.
While some scenes may be troubling and deeply upsetting, there are also fleeting moments of levity and alleviating humour. By the film’s climax, the audience are left with an inspiring message of hope and a valuable lesson about resilience in the face of adversity.
While will soon be arriving on Netflix, it is currently enjoying a limited release in select cinemas. I was fortunate enough to see the film in Dublin’s prestigious Lighthouse Cinema, a venue that perfectly suited the tone of this film.
The intimate and ambient design of this arthouse theatre was the ideal setting for such a work of art. If you can find the time to see Steve in cinemas during its limited release, I would strongly recommend that you do so as this is a film that you will not forget any time soon.
