Steve – Movie Review
First Reaction – Steve is a brilliant reflection on mental health and the battles to understand it.
Director: Tim Mielants
Writer: Max Porter (Screenplay)
Cast
- Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later)
- Tracey Ullman (Into the Woods)
- Jay Lycurgo (The Batman)
- Little Smiz (Top Boy)
Plot: 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.
Runtime: 1 Hour 33 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Steve starts as we meet headteacher Steve (Murphy), who has been running a reform college for troubled teenagers. The students have a mix of problems, which can lead to violent tendencies and mental health problems. A film crew arrive to document the college, as Steve battles to keep the place open.
Elsewhere, student Shy (Lycurgo) feels trapped in this world, where he doesn’t have the same mix of chaos as the other students. However, the college is battling to stay afloat, and the documentary could put a spotlight on the school, but Steve has his own problems to deal with.
Verdict on Steve
Recap
The movie follows a headteacher trying to keep his reform college for troubled teenagers from being closed. He has a documentary film crew show the ups and downs they face to try and grab a tiny bit more attention. Meanwhile, we learn the battles the students go through to understand where they fit into the world.
Best Parts
The movie reflects the struggles of understanding mental health and troubled teenagers during the 1990s. It shows the pressure placed on the headteacher as he battles to keep the hope alive. The performances are fantastic and drive the story, and show how large portions of the population were happy to shut people out. One of the biggest highlights is the chaotic feeling the movie has, mixed with the documentary style, which gives a wonderful reflection of the state of mental health.
Final Thoughts –Steve is a perfect reflection of the struggles in mental health.
