We Need To Talk About Kevin

Release date: 21st October 2011. Director Lynne Ramsey (British). BBFC Certificate - 15. Based on novel of same name - 2001

Technology:

• The Fuji Eterna 500t - new at time; shoot at night & day with same stock; reduced costs
• Stock gave film vivid look - manipulation of contrast

Institutional:

• funded by BBC
• struggled to raise funds
• long delay in production
• rewrite script - cheaper
• BBC and UK film support - support network not many indie filmmakers get

Nature vs Nurture

• Nature - Kevin mentally unstable?
• Nurture - mother brought him up with resentment

Contemporary concerns about the break down of traditional family

e.g women having children AND persuing a career

High school killings and threat of terrorism - concern of Western culture

Film deals with these anxierties and demonstrates society's need to understand why people commit crimes.

Book - struggled to publish - 9/11

Non-Linear:

• not in chronological order
• enigma code - Barthes
• goes against Todorov equilibrium

Barthes - Enigma Code: a puzzle for the audience to discover the answer to

Todorov -

• Equilibrium - normal
• Disruption - change/problem
• Conflict - trying to solve problem
• Resolution - problem solved
• New equilibrium - normal but different

Levi-Strauss - conflict between two binary opposites

• Mother vs Son
• Female vs Male

Propp - common characters 

• Heroine
• Villain
• Victims