Review #284: 'We Need to Talk About Kevin' (2011)

I must confess that I have not read Lionel Shriver's 2003 novel that this film is based. What I do know is that the books structure is assembled with letters written from mother to father after the events involving their son. The film however, uses an altogether more intricate, fractured reveal through the tragic memories of a mother dealing with an alarmingly profound problem. The escalation of Kevin's (Ezra Miller) behaviour towards his mother, Eva (Tilda Swinton), is seen in flashback. Fragments of information scatter the narrative: In infancy, Kevin's screaming becomes unbearable for Eva, she stands for a moment of pure bliss next with baby in tram, stood next to road works, the immense concrete driller becoming simply a different (and therefore perfect) emitter of high decibel noise: Kevin treats his mother with disdain, whilst having a seemingly normal relationship with his father, Franklin (John C. Reilly).

Whilst we are aware throughout the film that the Kevin of the title is to commit a horrific act in the Columbine-style massacre, the film never really focuses on him as the simple arbiter of evil. As the structure is based around the grief stricken memories of the mother, we are given elements of her memories and their relation to Eva's search for any form of reasoning behind what caused this to occur. She visits her son in prison, and their pained relationship is laid bear.

This is Lynne Ramsey's first film since 2002's Morvern Callar, and is an exceptional exploration of grief, the accumulation of memory, and the guilt association with parenthood. What would any parent think of a child who goes to high school and attacks the students with a crossbow? Both pivotal performances from Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller are excruciatingly brilliant (if Swinton does not get an Oscar nomination, I will eat a handful of flesh-eating ants). Whilst not an easy subject to deal with, the way in which it has been written, directed and performed makes it absolutely essential viewing. Possibly the best film of 2011.

Directed by: Lynne Ramsay
Starring: Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller
Country: UK/USA

Rating: *****

Marc Ivamy