The novella the film Steve is based on (also written by screenwriter Porter) is focused on Lycurgo's character, Shy, and his interiority. Shy is a student at a school for boys with behavioural problems who reaches a crisis point. Readers are immersed into his thinking through non-traditional narrative forms such as poetry. The film shifts this focus to the title character, played by Murphy, the headmaster of the school and takes a completely different approach. It focuses on a day when a documentary crew is filming at the school as things spiral out of control. Both work together to bring different means of exploring the challenges those discarded by society, the performative aspects of our systems, and the helplessness so many involved feel.
Mielants' approach to set this as a pseudo-documentary works to give the film a raw and honest feeling even if it doesn't always make sense in terms of in-world logic (would that scene really have been filmed by an on site doc crew?). But he begins to move away from this style and move into something more surreal as the film progresses. It isn't always clear when this is continuing and when it isn't. This approach does highlight that performative aspect I discussed, giving lots of opportunity for the film to question how we generally approach the "difficult" people the film forces us to confront. It also allows us to tap into some of that interiority of the characters that the book reaches.
Amongst a strong cast over all Murphy and Lycurgo both stand out giving great depth to their characters. Steve struggles to resolve itself in a way that doesn't fall into the all too typically tragic ways these stories but despite this I believe it finds some insights and truths through the work of its cast and crew.
Steve
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Tracey Ullman, Jay Lycurgo, Simbi Ajikawo, Emily Watson
Director: Tim Mielants
Writer: Max Porter
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