What are three things that you would describe yourself as? This is one question that the interviewer would ask the troubled kids from the school.
This drama is about a guy called Murphy (Cillian Murphy), a troubled but passionate headteacher who runs a residential reform school for kids who’ve lost their way. He’s got some loyal staff with him his deputy (Tracey Ullman), a therapist/counsellor (Emily Watson), and a new teacher (Little Simz), who brings a different kind of energy and perspective to the group. Together, they try to keep some sense of order among the chaos while still teaching the kids something meaningful about life and themselves.
A local TV crew visits the school to film interviews with the staff and students, including Steve, whose emotional and distressed interview opens the film giving it the feel of a true-crime or psychological documentary. The students, however, seem excited by the attention, even making reckless comments like “Always carry a blade.” On the same day, while a self-important MP visits the school, Murphy learns from the hospital trust that the school buildings will be sold, and the institution closed without consulting the staff.
At the same time, Shy (Jay Lycurgo) receives a devastating call from his mother and stepfather, who tell him they no longer want contact with him. That moment hits hard it’s a quiet, painful reminder of how fragile these kids’ lives really are.
There was one line that Shy says which I thought really stood out:
“I want to be here at Stanton Wood, but sometimes I want to be four years old and start again and not fuck it up. Have another run at it but not in my head. Not fuck so much stuff up, not feel like all the thing I fucked up are on me. Like stuck to me.”
Jay Lycurgo is an unbelievable actor, and the scene between him and Cillian Murphy was unreal so raw and full of emotion that it almost felt unscripted.
The film has this poetic and theatrical style of filmmaking that makes it stand out. It’s beautifully shot and deeply emotional, balancing realism with artful storytelling. What Steve does so well is show that redemption isn’t easy it’s messy, painful, and sometimes out of reach. But it also reminds us that even the smallest act of care can change someone’s life.
Is there a teacher you looked up to when you were going through something? Someone who made you feel seen, even when you didn’t believe in yourself? Steve makes you think about that and about how powerful it can be to have just one person who refuses to give up on you.