Steve (2025): A Raw, Emotional Portrait of Teaching Under Pressure

Amidst a year filled with high-concept thrillers and expansive epics, Steve (2025) stands out as a subtly powerful drama that leaves a lasting impact. Directed by Tim Mielants and featuring a brilliant performance by Cillian Murphy, the film offers an unflinching look at the human toll of teaching, mental health, and institutional pressures. Based on Max Porter’s novella Shy, Steve transforms a tightly woven narrative into a visceral exploration of one man's struggle to maintain order, purpose, and sanity within a failing system.

Set in a British reform school for troubled boys in the 1990s, Steve follows the titular teacher through a single, intense day. As the school faces closure, Steve battles his own mental and emotional fatigue while attempting to guide students caught between fear, rebellion, and fleeting hope. The story is particularly compelling through the perspective of Shy, a student navigating the delicate path of adolescence and identity, portrayed with quiet depth by Jay Lycurgo. The relationship between teacher and student forms the film's emotional core, exploring themes of mentorship, accountability, and human resilience.

Murphy’s depiction of Steve is a revelation: layered, raw, and at times heartbreaking. He portrays a man balancing between dedication and despair, capturing both the personal stakes and systemic failures that define the film’s world. The supporting cast, including Tracey Ullman, Emily Watson, and Simbi Ajikawo (Little Simz), enhances the story with nuanced performances that highlight the collective struggle within this educational microcosm.

The cinematography uses claustrophobic spaces, natural lighting, and carefully orchestrated chaos to reflect Steve’s inner turmoil, allowing the audience to feel the weight of responsibility on both teacher and students. The pacing, intentionally intense and sometimes chaotic, draws viewers into the unpredictability of school life and the mounting pressures educators face.

Steve is more than a character study; it is a commentary on the broader educational system, mental health awareness, and the quiet heroism of those dedicated to shaping young lives. The film’s exploration of identity, institutional failure, and personal redemption resonates with anyone who has faced the tension between duty and self-preservation.

In a year dominated by spectacle, Steve emerges as a poignant, human-centered drama. It serves as a cinematic reminder of the unseen battles teachers fight and solidifies Cillian Murphy’s status as one of the most compelling actors of his generation. For those seeking an emotionally resonant, thought-provoking story, Steve is a must-see.