Hyde Park Pick: Steve

Unfolding over the course of 24 hours, Tim Mielants' follow up to Small Things Like These joins Cillian Murphy's weary headteacher as he arrives on the grounds of the reform college he is responsible for. From the start we can't help but appreciate the demons he is battling ranging from his own mental and physical health, to the cold and distant representatives of the trust who own the college.

Despite the name, this isn't just his story. On paper it's also the story of Shy, one of the young residents at the college. A difficult combination of charm, anger and pain all mixed up in one. On this day in particular there is something in the parallels of these two men both brought a little too close to breaking point.

But, one of the strengths of Mielants' film is that this isn't just a story of two characters. It's a beautiful sketch of a micro community of people, both professionals and residents, all trying to get through, either to be better or just to survive so as to preserve the opportunity for better somewhere down the line. At 96 minutes it's a slight film (by current standards) and each of the characters feels like they could hold a story on their own but it's not necessary because there is so much space here for us as audience members to bring our own feelings into this. Most people watching this probably know someone navigating some iteration of the same system, those at need, those trying to help, scarcity all around.

Steve is a more dramatic film than Small Things Like These in some ways, but it's also a comparative celebration of those trying to do their past and the great importance of that. 

Steve showtimes and tickets are available here.