Cillian Murphy's 'Steve' on Netflix: A Story of Educators and Troubled Teens

Tim Mielants' film 'Steve', starring Cillian Murphy, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and arrives on Netflix on October 3. Based on Max Porter's novel 'Shy' (published in Italy by Sellerio), the film is set in the mid-1990s and follows 24 decisive hours in the life of a principal and his students. Murphy plays Steve, an educator at a recovery school, who battles to save his institution's integrity while confronting his own demons. The narrative also focuses on Shy, a restless teenager suspended between violence and a desire for rebirth. Murphy, son of teachers, brings personal insight to the role, describing educators as underpaid and undervalued yet doing the most important work. The cast includes Tracey Ullman as Amanda, Simbi Ajikawo as Shola, and Jay Lycurgo as Shy. Mielants conducted an extensive casting process, auditioning 3,500 teenagers. The film's aesthetic draws from Dogma 95 and 1990s cinema, with a soundtrack featuring jungle, drum'n'bass, and delicate orchestrations. Ajikawo wrote an original song for Shy. The film is described as an homage to educators and social workers operating in the shadows, offering a message of resilience: 'Give yourself time. We won't let you drown. Life is a long marathon.'