We need to write about Kevin

We need to talk about Kevin is a film released in 2011. It was directed by Lynne Ramsay who had previously made the short film, 'Gasman'. The film was released under BBC films with a budget of 7 million dollars. The film profited with a box office of 10.8 million dollars.
We Need to Talk About Kevin Poster
The film can fit under both the thriller genre and the drama genre. With themes of betrayal, jealousy, relationships, love, violence, mental health, parenting and isolation, the film is rather dark and goes into a few topics which others would not go into. The film is about a woman named Eva (played by Tilda Swinton), who seems to have an enjoyable, active life. This changes when she is pregnant and starts to evidently become depressed. The situation grows worse when the baby is born, and shows clear signs of evilness from then on.

The opening scene of the movie shows Eva enjoying herself in some kind of tomato festival. It is here that we start to see the importance of the use of colour throughout the movie. Red is everywhere in the mis-en-scene and screams can be heard as Eva is at the festival. This links to the end of the film in which Kevin (the boy) attacks a school with a bow, which can also be heard in the opening scene. The use of colour is utilised more throughout the film. For example, the locks that Kevin uses to trap the other children in the school are a clear yellow colour that is very distinctive. Of course, this sticks in our head.
Image result for we need to talk about kevin bow








This is similar to the short film, Gasman which Lynne Ramsay directed, because both plots are not very revealing and leave it down to the viewer to distinguish what is happening. The directive style of Ramsay is to let the viewer interpret what is happening and to not really give a clear plot.

The camera angles in this film fuel the theme of isolation. For example, it can be argued that both Eva and Kevin are isolated in this movie. Eva, because no one believes her about Kevin, and Kevin because he is different and extremely introverted, to a point where he seems to isolate himself. There are many closeups or awkward angles showing only sections of the person. Combined with the colours, this creates quite an uncomfortable and unusual effect on the viewer.

The film was nominated for multiple BAFTAs and won some small awards. Most notably, it won a BIFA award and Lynne Ramsay won best director in the BIFA awards. The conclusion of the movie shows strong signs of social realism. Especially in the modern world where school shootings in America are unfortunately very common.

One of the best scenes in the movie is where Eva and Kevin go to eat dinner. It is here that we discover Kevin's wit and intelligence. He seems to have a mindset of someone older than his age, which is a recurring thing in the film.

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