Overview

• The film is now streaming on Netflix following a TIFF premiere and a short theatrical run in September.
• Author Max Porter adapted his 2023 novella Shy for the screen and deliberately centered the headteacher Steve to craft a demanding role for Murphy.
• Director Tim Mielants reunites with Murphy, employing handheld camerawork and a TV news‑crew device to depict a single turbulent day at a 1990s reform school.
• Critical response ranges from strong approval to reservations about an uneven, cluttered structure, with broad agreement that Murphy’s turn is a standout.
• Jay Lycurgo, who plays Shy, leaned heavily on the novella during preparation, while the cast also features Tracey Ullman, Emily Watson, and Simbiatu Ajikawo (Little Simz), with a score by Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow.