Being a social worker is one of the most fulfilling professions, and the fact that every day is different provides a unique, addictive challenge. It’s actually selfish in a way; there’s that pride and overwhelming sense of achievement with a successful closed case. You take pride in knowing that it’s because of your efforts that someone has a chance at a better life. But that’s actually also the most difficult part of being a social worker, finding and maintaining that blurry line between your private life and your professional life. The feeling of responsibility can easily consume you physically and emotionally, so much so that your work becomes your life goal, any mistakes or accidents will forever be a part of you, and this is because our profession stands hugely on emotions. How empathic are you?
This brings me to Steve; the film is about, of course, Steve, the headmaster/caseworker at an understaffed reform school for teenage boys with severe social and behavioral difficulties. The movie is like a documentary tracking Steve’s day at the reform school, from breaking up fights, ( this is a teenage boy school of course, a fight will break out every second)balancing the role of friend, teacher, headmaster, caseworker, the daily check-in personally with the boys to board meetings where he his given a short notice about the school’s closure. To make matters worse, this just happens to be the day they have journalists around who are actively looking for faults in the school, among the boys and teachers.
Working with emotionally fragile clients, especially teenagers, requires a lot from a caseworker since these are people who have lost trust in everyone, so building that connection and trying to gain their confidence and trust is not a walkover. Early in the film, we know that Steve has a special connection with all the boys, and he’s able to talk to them, which explains his reaction to the news about the school’s closure. He is pushed back into drug and alcohol abuse over an incident he still blames himself for.
Kudos to the director Tim Mielants and to writer Max Porter, who adapted the script from his own book called Shy. Cillian Murphy plays Steve, who gives life to the troubled, deeply responsible, passionate headteacher who describes himself as “very…very tired.” You will meet the boys like Shy, played by Jay Lycurgo, who is trying to find a balance in his life. The little boy in him who just wants his mother’s love and to sit lazily in his grandma’s house, but all this just seems emotionally and physically distant. Shy described himself as “depressed, angry, lazy”. And Tarone, who admits that what he misses most is the simple, grounded structure of his old life—specifically being ordered by his mum not to do things.
So, do I recommend Steve? Absolutely, one of the beauties of watching a good movie is being able to pick up a thing or two that changes or questions your view about a certain thing. Steve does exactly that; it will give you a clear view of social work as a whole, and maybe appreciate people working in the sector a little more. As for me, right now I am so intrigued that I will go read Shy by Max Porter.
