Jay Lycurgo shines in STEVE
Steve premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on a lovely Friday night. The film, starring Cillian Murphy, made its world premiere at the festival. It is a reinterpretation of Max Porter's best-selling book, SHY, which received a rousing ovation when the end credits rolled. The film provides an important examination of how we treat children who are not always easy to love, led by newcomer Jay Lycurgo's stellar performance as the troubled teen Shy, which delivers a gut-wrenching portrayal.
The story primarily unfolds over the course of a single day, as Steve (Cillian Murphy), the director of a reform school, learns that the institution may be facing closure. This revelation, along with various incidents occurring at the school while he grapples with his demons, sets the stage for a conversation about how teachers who are willing to invest the necessary effort to help the most challenging students often end up feeling broken themselves.
Lycurgo, who many remember from the hit TV show Titans, had these words to say at the Q and A following the premiere. “I couldn’t have done it without these boys, but they’re so open and vulnerable from the beginning. So when you go to that space, you feel like you can do anything. They really feel like brothers. I’m so proud of them as well. It makes me emotional just watching the film. Every time I sit there, I’m like, ‘F**k…s**t."
He added, “I feel like in a character like Shy, there’s a real fragility and a struggle… not all of us have that. And that’s us. We’re all here, getting on with life for all of us. [and going through things] behind closed doors. That’s what we’re really trying to show. I feel like this film is so vulnerable for that. And once again, because it built up gradually with all of us, I feel like we could really show that in the film.”
The film also addresses the issue of toxic masculinity and explores how the teens react by resorting to violence whenever their manhood is challenged.
“I feel like with Steve and Shy, though, what I love is that both of them have struggled in different stages of their lives. Like all of us have said, we’re all lost boys. No matter what age. I’ve always wanted to communicate better with men and be more open with men. But I feel like that generation weren’t taught how to do that.”
Directed by Tim Mielants and written by Max Porter, Steve was produced by Alan Moloney, Murphy, and Tina Pawlik, with Porter also serving as the executive producer. The film’s score was composed by Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow. The cast features Murphy, Lycurgo, Tracey Ullman, Simbi Ajikawo, Emily Watson, Douggie McMeekin, Youssef Kerkour, Luke Ayres, Joshua J. Parker, Araloyin Oshunremi, Tut Nyuot, Tom Moya, Ahmed Ismail, Joshua Barry, Archie Fisher, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Priyanga Burford, George Fouracres, Marcus Garvey, Ruby Ashbourne-Serkis, and Roger Allam.
Steve comes to theaters in limited release on September the 19th and on Netflix on October the 3rd.