We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

Kevin's mother struggles to love her strange child, despite the increasingly vicious things he says and does as he grows up. But Kevin is just getting started, and his final act will be beyond anything anyone imagined.

Director:

Lynne Ramsay

Writers:

Lynne Ramsay (screenplay), Rory Kinnear (screenplay),

Stars:

Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 17 wins & 30 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tilda Swinton	...	Eva Khatchadourian
John C. Reilly	...	Franklin
Ezra Miller	...	Kevin, Teenager
Jasper Newell	...	Kevin, 6-8 Years
Rock Duer	...	Kevin, Toddler (as Rocky Duer)
Ashley Gerasimovich	...	Celia
Siobhan Fallon	...	Wanda (as Siobhan Fallon Hogan)
Alex Manette	...	Colin
Kenneth Franklin	...	Soweto
Leslie Lyles	...	Smash Lady
Paul Diomede	...	Corrections Officer Al
Michael Campbell	...	Corrections Officer
J. Mallory McCree	...	Prison Boy (as J. Mal McCree)
Mark Elliot Wilson	...	Eva's Lawyer
James Chen	...	Dr. Foulkes

Storyline

Eva Khatchadourian is trying to piece together her life following the "incident". Once a successful travel writer, she is forced to take whatever job comes her way, which of late is as a clerk in a travel agency. She lives a solitary life as people who know about her situation openly shun her, even to the point of violent actions toward her. She, in turn, fosters that solitary life because of the incident, the aftermath of which has turned her into a meek and scared woman. That incident involved her son Kevin Khatchadourian, who is now approaching his eighteenth birthday. Eva and Kevin have always had a troubled relationship, even when he was an infant. Whatever troubles he saw, Franklin, Eva's complacent husband, just attributed it to Kevin being a typical boy. The incident may be seen by both Kevin and Eva as his ultimate act in defiance against his mother.

---

Plot Keywords:

travel agency | defiance | travel writer | boy | alienation | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing violence and behavior, some sexuality and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan] Official site [United Kingdom]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 2011 (UK)

Also Known As:

Tenemos que hablar de Kevin

Filming Locations:

Buñol, Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$24,587 (USA) (9 December 2011)

Gross:

$1,738,692 (USA) (18 May 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, UK Film Council, Footprint Investment Fund

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ashley Gerasimovich and Ursula Parker both played the role of Jane in Louie.

---

Goofs

At the Christmas party in Eva's workplace a cigarette is put out by sticking it into a Christmas cake. At first we see it being put right next to an elf figure but then after the camera zooms out we see it on the other side of the cake.

---

Quotes

Eva: You don't look happy.
Kevin: Have I ever?

---

Crazy Credits

There are no opening credits.

---

Connections

Features Happy Days (1974)

---

Soundtracks

"Aquaculture"
Written by Jana Winderen
Performed by Jana Winderen
Published by Touch Music (MCPS)

User Reviews

Great film - a must see

Loved this gripping film. Unfortunately for me, I could really relate to it. Like Eva, I am also a mother of a troubled son, who for some reason I think was just born 'difficult' and 'self-destructive'. Its very hard to parent such a child so I could very much empathize with Eva's situation. Unfortunately society does not help in assisting parents with difficult children and most of the time they accuse you of overreacting. Let this film be a lesson to all allied health care workers, in that a parent does not just imagine things! I would give the film 9 out of 10. I really found Franklin to be irritating - some men tend to live in denial. Eva in a way was a martyr in that she should have been more firmer on Kevin, she was far too ambivalent in her parenting style and Kevin knew from an early age that he could get away with things.