Shriver focuses on the relative importance of innate characteristics and personal experiences in determining character and behavior , and the book is particularly concerned with the possibility that Eva 's ambivalence toward maternity may have influenced Kevin 's development . Shriver also identifies American optimism and " high-hopes-crushed " as one of the novel 's primary themes , as represented by Franklin , the narrator ’s husband , who serves as " the novel ’s self-willed optimist about the possibility of a happy family . " In 2005 BBC Films acquired the rights to adapt the book as a film . Director Lynne Ramsay signed on to direct . It was announced in March 2009 that Tilda Swinton had signed on to star in the film as Eva . Filming began on location in Stamford , Connecticut on April 19 , 2010 . '' We Need To Talk About Kevin '' was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9 and 11 , 2011 . John C. Reilly plays Franklin and Ezra Miller plays Kevin . The film premiered In Competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival , where it was met with praise from film critics
2011 Cannes Film Festival
2011 Cannes Film Festival
We Need to Talk About Kevin