“Steve” Hands Viewers Deeply Moving Characters as Souvenir

If there is anything Steve leaves behind, apart from its grounded characters and thoughtful story, it is the idea that being a teacher is not only about writing lesson notes and drawing graphs. It is also about caring for students’ mental and emotional wellbeing.

Starring award-winning Irish actor Cillian Murphy, Steve is written by Max Porter and adapted from his 2023 novel Shy. Set in 1996 England, the film takes place in a reform school where both teachers and students struggle with personal battles. The story captures a single day in the life of a passionate headteacher and his equally devoted staff, doing their best to guide a group of troubled boys.

From the beginning, the odds are against them. They are understaffed, underpaid, and holding on to what is left of their patience. As the day unfolds, things quickly spiral out of control. A documentary film crew arrives at the school, claiming to document its challenges, but their real interest lies in drama and spectacle. The tension rises further when Steve and his staff learn that the school might be shut down in six months, leaving them crushed and even more frustrated.

What follows is a long day of confusion and emotion. Beneath the chaos lies the film’s real focus: the mental health struggles that many young boys quietly live with. Most of them cannot control their behavior; their outbursts come from pain they do not know how to express. Without help, these emotions lead to disaster. Still, Steve ends on a note of empathy, showing the value of care and understanding in a world that often ignores both.

At the center of the film is the connection between Steve and his students. The boys are wild, unpredictable, and restless, yet Steve and his team refuse to give up. They continue trying to restore order and offer some direction in the middle of chaos.

Murphy, known for Oppenheimer (2023) and Inception (2010), gives a commanding performance. He plays Steve as a man torn between duty and personal pain, a dedicated teacher battling addiction and haunted by a past tragedy. Murphy captures the exhaustion of someone who tries to hold everything together while falling apart inside. His performance is honest, layered, and deeply affecting.

Jay Lycurgo, who plays Shy, is another strong presence. Shy is a sensitive young man rejected by his family, slowly sinking into despair as the day progresses. His breakdown and final act bring the film to its emotional high point, showing how fragile the human spirit can be. Lycurgo’s performance ensures that Shy remains one of the most memorable characters in the story.

Joshua Parker’s Riley is a walking trigger, always ready to fight anyone who looks at him the wrong way. Jamie, played by Luke Ayers, shares a similar temperament but expresses it differently. He thrives on conflict and rarely lets an argument pass. Their constant clashes add more tension to an already unstable environment.

Among the staff, Little Simz (Simbi Ajikawo) as Shola stands out. She endures harassment from one of the boys, Tarone (Tut Nyuot), yet remains committed to her work. Her belief in the possibility of change keeps her going. Tracey Ullman as Amanda, Steve’s deputy, is the quiet support that helps both Steve and the boys stay afloat. She encourages Steve to confront his struggles instead of hiding from them. Together, the staff form the emotional backbone of the story.

Directed by Belgian filmmaker Tim Mielants, Steve has a raw, documentary-style tone that gives it a sense of realism. Known for Peaky Blinders, Mielants captures the tension and humanity within the school through handheld camerawork that follows the characters closely. The use of the in-film documentary crew is a clever storytelling device, giving the characters a chance to speak about their pain directly. The sound design, though simple, strengthens the emotions in every scene without overwhelming them.

Steve, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), marks another collaboration between Mielants and Murphy after Peaky Blinders (2013–2022) and Small Things Like These (2024). Their partnership once again produces something honest and deeply felt.

By the end, Steve leaves a quiet impact. The characters stay in the mind because their pain and hope feel familiar. The film reminds viewers of what it means to care, even when it seems impossible. It is a story about compassion, frustration, and the courage to keep showing up for others, no matter how broken things seem.

Release Date: October 3, 2025

Runtime: 93 minutes

Streaming Platform : Netflix 

Director: Tim Mielants 

Cast: Cillian Murphy, Jay Lycurgo, Archie Fisher, Luke Ayres, Joshua Barry, Araloyin Oshunremi, Marcus Garvey, Joshua J. Parker, Tom Moya, Priyanga Burford, Little Simz, Tut Nyuot, Emily Watson, and Tracey Ullman.