Steve

This film is set in the 90s when cuts to education are coming down upon a residential school in the UK that is the last chance for young men who have social and learning difficulties.

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The feeling that it’s the 90s really comes across with the clothing, the use of music, and especially with the many handheld-camera shots. The off-kilter footage makes us feel we are in the room with the screaming, fighting kids and the tired, overwhelmed educators who are just trying keep the situation under control.

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The story follows the school’s principal who cares a great deal about the school and the kids, and who hasn’t processed the pain he carries from an accident. It’s also about a shy, troubled young man who is struggling with who he might or might not become and his violent tendencies.

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It’s noisy, intense, upsetting, emotional, beautiful, and doesn’t make anything easy for the viewer, not even the ending which is left undefined.  

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I watched this because I’m an admirer of Cillian Murphy. He’s excellent in this, balancing tremendous grief, love for the kids, and an addiction, which Cillian plays as super awkward and nervous. His character is present with the people he interacts with but is also desperately running away from himself. Cillian does a brilliant job with the role.

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Lil Simz is in this too! She has a small part and was given a truly terrible wig, but it's great to see her doing film in addition to music.

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