Cillian Murphy has become a cinematic powerhouse—a household name for his roles in Peaky Blinders, as well as Christopher Nolan films like The Dark Knight series and Oppenheimer—the latter for which he received an Academy Award. Though those performances are masterful, that’s not where Murphy thrives.

Indie films are where he truly shines—from Sunshine to Breakfast on Pluto and The Wind That Shakes the Barely to Small Things Like These, Murphy’s raw acting chops are not overshadowed by a titanic production or star-studded ensemble. When Murphy is cast into these indie films, he’s rooted in reality—it feels as though you’re looking through a window, watching him as a real character in a true situation. His acting is deeply visceral, and these smaller indie films give him the space (and freedom) to really shine.

Such is the case with Netflix’s latest, Steve, directed by Tim Mielants, who also worked with Murphy on Small Things Like These. Steve—adapted from Max Porter’s novella Shy—follows Murphy as an exhausted teacher of troubled youth at a rural English boarding school in the mid-1990s.

Steve, battling his own demons and addictions, is a deeply caring and mild-mannered educator who serves as part mom, part dad, part friend, and part teacher to these kids when everyone else has abandoned them. When the news is broken that the school will shut down in six months, the dedicated staff are devastated, and Steve’s mental health begins to deteriorate. Meanwhile, one of Steve’s students, Shy, struggles with feelings of abandonment and suicidal thoughts.

Steve is a deeply touching and fast-paced look into the lives of boys who just want to be loved and accepted by those around them, and their teachers who try their best. Murphy’s performance here is impeccable, namely in his explosive outburst when finding out the school is to be shuttered. He’s raw, from his monologue delivery to the grief-stricken look in his haggard eyes.

This film is a small, lovable gem, as was Small Things Like These, which I fear some will pass by. Murphy’s tender portrayal of our title character creates a comforting, atmospheric feature that contrasts well with the ugliness that many of his boys are facing.

Don’t scroll past this one on Netflix.

Steve
2025
dir. Tim Mielants
92 min.

Now streaming on Netflix.