We Need To Talk About Kevin Released 21 October 2011 Director Lynne Ramsay Starring Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller, Jasper Newell, Ursula Parker Writer(s) Lynne Ramsay, Rory Kinnear Producer(s) Jennifer Fox, Luc Roeg, Roberto Salerno Origin United Kingdom, United States Running Time 112 minutes Genre Drama Rating 16

92

Bad to the bone!

Tilda Swinton is an actress that divides opinion. Adored by the critics, her somewhat cold presence hasn’t always made her a big hit with audiences. After her breakthrough role in Orlando she’s alternated between art-house films and more mainstream work such as Burn After Reading, The Chronicles of Narnia and Michael Clayton, for which she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. She brings a tough, uncompromising quality to her work, which while admirable, doesn’t always make for comfortable viewing.

She certainly brings that quality to her new film, which is based on the book by Lionel Shriver. Swinton plays Vera, a women who is awoken by the smell of the red paint which has been splashed all over her house and car. Vera doesn’t get upset or call the police; she just tries to get on with her day as best she can. When she gets a lowly temp job, she affords herself a rare smile only to be assaulted in the street by an elderly woman. When a stranger offers to phone the police on her behalf she curtly turns him down, saying it was her fault.

It emerges that the reason for the public hostility towards Vera is that she is the mother of a boy, Kevin, who committed a massacre at his school. As she struggles to keep things together she reflects in a series of flashbacks on Kevin’s life from the moment of conception. Even as a baby, Kevin never seemed to bond with Vera, who appeared to suffer with post-natal depression. As a toddler Kevin seems to have nothing but latent hostility towards Vera. Kevin as a young boy (played by Jasper Newell) is clearly very intelligent but steadfastly refuses to be potty-trained and tests his mother’s will at every turn.

He cleverly plays his mother off against his father Franklyn (John C. Reilly) acting the perfect son to him to only frustrate and depress Vera even further. He grows up into a teenager (played by Ezra Miller) and by now his interaction with his mother is driving Franklyn and Vera’s relationship to breaking point. Even the arrival of a little sister Susie (Ursula Parker) does little to dispel the household tension. Eventually there is talk of divorce in the air and then events come to a head.

This is a fascinating film from Scottish director Lynne Ramsay (Ratcatcher, Morvern Callar). Despite the fact that it’s told in flashbacks, there is a gripping suspense as events unfold. It will inevitably raise discussions about ‘Nature versus Nurture’. Was Kevin born a monster or did his mother’s alienation from him make him into one? In the flashbacks Kevin is portrayed as something of an antichrist and is chillingly played by young Jasper Newell and particular Ezra Miller (casting director Billy Hopkins deserves an award for finding these actors). However, we must remind ourselves that the narrator is a mother whose memory may not be entirely objective. There are a couple of scenes that suggests things aren’t entirely as Vera’s memories reflect them.

Though this is not an easy watch, this is a terrifically engaging film, filmed by Armagh native Seamus McGarvey in a sensual, expressive style. Ramsey pieces Vera’s memories together like pieces of a jigsaw to eventually reveal the full horrifying story. Miller is terrifyingly good as Kevin and there’s good support from the always-dependable Reilly. However this is Swinton’s movie and she is terrific as a woman drowning in guilt and regret but just about keeping her head above water. If the academy voters don’t find the subject matter too hard-hitting, she may well find herself up for an Oscar again next year.

This is a film that will stay with you long after viewing it and it’s doubtful we’ll see a more thought-provoking film this year.

- Jim O’Connor