Characters

Eva

Eva Khatchadourian is the main character in the film We Need to Talk About Kevin and she is portrayed by Tilda Swinton. Eva seems to work as a travel writer and adventurer (01:07:35), who then finds a job as a secretary for a travel agency. The film focuses on Eva’s journey as a mother, particularly in relation to her son, Kevin. 

The film portrays Eva's struggle as a mother trying to connect with her son. When she first gets pregnant, Eva seems to feel disconnected from motherhood (00:15:42) and not nearly as excited as Franklin. Moreover, she seems to be unable and unwilling to connect with other mothers (00:17:44). Overall, the film suggests that motherhood is not an altogether welcome change in Eva’s life (00:20:36). 

After Kevin is born, it becomes more and more obvious that Eva finds motherhood challenging and struggles to take care of Kevin, who is a difficult child. This seems to be further worsened by the fact that Franklin does not seem to empathize with Eva, as Kevin behaves nicely around him (00:22:48). Eva’s frustration and sense of isolation contribute to the tension and to her complicated feelings towards Kevin. This emotional distance between mother and son foreshadows the fractured relationship that ultimately plays a role in the tragic events.

The tension increases as Kevin’s actions towards Eva become more and more hostile and mean and yet Franklin always seems to take Kevin’s side (00:41:45). In this way, the film highlights Eva’s frustration and loneliness at the situation she finds herself in as well as her dissatisfaction with family life. 

Eva's character is deliberately crafted with ambiguity and complexity. The audience is encouraged to question the nature of her relationship with Kevin and whether she bears responsibility for his actions. This ambiguity adds depth to her character, prompting viewers to reflect on the comp...