Set in the mid-90s, Steve is a reimagining of Max Porter's Shy. The film follows a pivotal day in the life of headteacher Steve and his students at a last-chance reform school amidst a world that has forsaken them. As Steve fights to protect the school’s integrity and impending closure, we witness him grappling with his own mental health. In parallel to Steve’s struggles, we meet Shy, a troubled teen caught between his past and what lies ahead as he tries to reconcile his inner fragility with his impulse for self-destruction and violence.
The Garden Cinema View:
Steve is a fascinating watch which blends social realism, mockumentary, and black comedy with inventive camerawork and editing. Beneath this hybrid aesthetic lies a bleak story about disenfranchised teenagers, a broken system, and a few self-sacrificing educators running on empty.
The film's emotional impact is provided by exceptional ensemble performances. Cillian Murphy delivers a deeply humane yet increasingly unhinged performance as the dedicated pedagogue, Tracey Ullman skilfully balances the bleak and the hilarious as the head of their team, and Jay Lycurgo is remarkably truthful as the brilliant delinquent.
Unfortunately, the final act wraps things up too neatly, turning suddenly saccharine in what feels like a concession to streaming audiences. Despite this misstep, Steve remains a bleakly entertaining ride with heart.
