We Need To Talk About Kevin

We Need To Talk About Kevin is a psychological thriller film adaptation  from its novel (which I haven't read yet but looking forward to) by Lionel Shriver. The film was directed by Lynne Ramsay; starring Ezra Miller, Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilley.



The film tackles with the common debate on nature vs nurture along with the different real world dilemmas such as parenting, motherhood, its effects and its roles and how the community or the people involved reacts to it and whatnot.




The film is about a mother, Eva, whose struggle focuses on her first-born child, Kevin. The relationship she experiences with her son during his birth through growing up is shown as complicated. From the constant crying during Kevin's infancy to the non empathetic attitude he has shown during his older years, there is no doubt that the relationship between Kevin and his mother is distant, cold.



Eva decides to confront her husband, Franklin, about Kevin's behaviour and how it affects her but he decided not to take this as a critical issue. Kevin, in Franklin's eyes, seems just like any other boy. However, later on, Eva begins to see signs of violent and harsh attitude from Kevin in which his actions resulted into severe consequence.

  

Throughout the film, all I could wonder is, "Why?. Like "Why does Kevin hate his mother so much?" "Why must he be so cold and distant?" "Why must the community shun her so much for whatever it is that had happened?"  It starts off with Eva constantly being shunned, insulted, shamed or harassed by almost everyone around her whether it may be her neighbours, colleagues or community, making her live out of fear and recluse.

At first I could not understand why and was eager enough to want to know what it is that resulted to such hatred. The film transitions between the flashbacks and memories during Eva's motherhood and then to her present self. This helps us understand why everyone around her despises her so much and put the pieces together.

I love the way this film was directed. I think Lynne Ramsay did a really great job transitioning from a calm atmosphere (making them seem like a normal family for a moment) into a tense, melancholic one. This shows the two sides of Eva, one that struggling with her son's strange and inappropriate behaviour, the other struggling with its consequence, the aftermath; both not very different from each other. And most importantly, I'd like to really acknowledge the great acting between Ezra Miller and Tilda Swinton. They delivered the character's emotions so wonderfully.



And the ending would leave you haunting just like the way it did to Eva. Could it be that it was her fault? Or could it have just been something that was out of her control?  It really makes you think.

The film is altogether horrifying, heartbreaking, depressing and thought provoking. It's making me wonder if its book is the same, if not much more.

In which I talk films and books...

I've always been fond of films and television shows. Growing up, I was exposed to many things offered to me by my parents or the media. Some things were intentional, like the childish cartoon shows and animated Disney films that any other parent would show to their children. However, some were accidentally stumbled upon and frankly inappropriate to be seen by a seven year old kid.

I will never forget that time when I started digging through some VHS tapes on the restricted section (#suchrebel) in the deeper, darker parts of the bottom shelf and found "Ghost"by Jerry Zucker, starring Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze. It was not the first film I watched, but it was the first non-kiddy film that I thoroughly enjoyed as kid. From then on, my interest for films, TV shows and things happening on-screen started growing as I keep indulging myself in various types of films.

Now, books are a different story. I didn't grow up as a reader. Sure, there were picture books and story books but I guess those weren't influential enough to get me to be a bookworm as a kid. I wasn't introduced a Harry Potter book by my parents (yes, I haven't read them yet please don't murder me) and the only book I've probably only been asked to read was the Holy Bible and even that, I haven't finished yet (or will ever?)

Believe it or not, the first proper book I've read was Twilight. I was happy to finally read something legit in terms of well, being an inexperienced reader. In all honesty, I didn't even properly read the thing. There were so many words and it just bored me to death. Then I realized that I probably should have started somewhere else. Thankfully, my younger sister is one hell of a bookworm and bought ALL of the "A Series of Unfortunate Events" book series by Lemony Snicket. I'd read them after she'd be done with them and that's how I slowly got sucked into this wonderful world of books. And so, the urge to explore the world of book has become unstoppable that it ended to this.

My books and sister's books

Movies, TV shows and books are three of my passions and I think it would be nice to go in depth and share my perspectives on this particular thing that I've watched or read sooooooo yeah, I hope this blog post isn't too long. 

Welcome to my film/book thingy ba-blob-blog. ✖