In Bruges

Icon Entertainment

R4 DVD

Blu Ray and DVD

In Bruges is a very unique sort of film, it is a thriller, dark comedy and ultimately a tragedy, it keeps you watching every moment due to the depth of its character development, plot twists and witty and incisive dialogue.

The story opens somewhat like a travel guide to Bruges (which is in Belgium), it is beautifully shot and filled with superb images evoking the Medieval history of the city. Into this ancient township come two hit men from Dublin, sent to escape the heat after a hit had gone terribly wrong. Ken is a seasoned hitman (played by Brendan Gleeson), experienced, cold but somewhat jaded. He is also well educated and enjoys the art, history and Churches of Bruges. The other is Ray (played by Colin Farrell), he is hot headed and aggressive and lacks self control. He finds Bruges annoying and irritating and is the cause of their temporary exile, he accidently shot a child on his first kill. Ken has a father like affection for Ray and sees how his own life has been destroyed by his work and tries to “herd” Ray into safer pursuits, but trouble also seems to find Ray wherever he goes.

Ken and Ray work for Harry, a violent if not psychopathic crime lord. During most of the film we only experience Harry via the phone and abusive messages. When he arrives we find a nervous and edgy Ralph Fiennes. It seems that Harry has not just sent them to Bruges for a holiday, he wants Ken to kill Ray as in his line of work it is unacceptable to kill a child even by accident. When Ken refuses, a chain of events begin which will have dire consequences for them all.

The film spends a lot of time developing the characters Ken and Ray and they are superbly portrayed, even for killers you find yourself surprisingly sympathetic. Both have their own quirks and the fascinating conversations they have create the incredible dialogue which is throughout the film. There are also so many unusual support characters from a drug addled Dwarf to local prostitutes, Ray’s love interest Chloie (who is a drug dealer) and her punk boyfriend and Yuri, a strange gun dealer.

In Bruges is a hard film to describe, it sounds violent and nihilistic and in many ways it is, yet it is also filled with incredible dark humour, bizarre situations and some of the funniest dialogue you will have heard in a while.

At the same time the film slowly moves inevitably towards a very bleak climax. The end is powerful and incredibly tragic; it is amazing how all the threads of the film are brought together in an finale which is moving and poignant.

What is quite amazing is that this is the first feature film by Martin McDonagh, whose previous plays have been highly respected in England and Ireland. In Bruges brings together an incredible use of dialogue with a deep understanding of human nature, it is witty, brutal, funny and sad, so often the humour is self deprecating and filled with dark and cynical reflections on life.

The sheer rollercoaster of emotions that this film evokes is astounding, you will laugh one minute, be shocked the next and finally cry as the film ends as each character is brought to face the consequences of their choices.

This is truly incredible cinema and a must see film.

This review will appear in Volume 2 No.2 (2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

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