‘In Bruges’ is a 2008 dark comedy-drama written and directed by Martin McDonagh in his feature film debut. It blends sharp wit, brutal violence, and emotional depth, a hallmark of the former playwright. Set against the picturesque medieval backdrop of Bruges, Belgium, the story centers on two hitmen who lay low after a job gone wrong. With elements of existential dread, guilt, redemption, and twisted humor, In Bruges is both a character study and a meditation on morality.
Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are two Irish hitmen sent to Bruges, a quiet Belgian town after a recent job in London ends in disaster. Their boss, Harry Waters (Ralph Fiennes), instructs them to stay put and await further orders.
Ray is restless, immature, and disgusted by Bruges’ quaint charm, finding the town boring and absurdly medieval. Older and more contemplative, Ken takes to the town’s beauty and historical allure. Their contrasting reactions to the city mirror deeper psychological contrasts, particularly Ray’s struggle with a heavy burden of guilt.
Through a series of flashbacks, it’s revealed that Ray’s first job as a hitman went horribly wrong: while attempting to kill a priest, he accidentally shot and killed a young boy. The tragedy has left Ray suicidal, consumed with remorse, and emotionally unstable.
As the two spend days wandering Bruges—visiting churches and museums and drinking in pubs—Ray meets Chloë (Clémence Poésy), a local drug dealer and film assistant, and begins a complicated romance. He also has bizarre interactions with Jimmy (Jordan Prentice), an American dwarf actor working on a surreal, dreamlike film being shot in town.
Eventually, Ken receives a phone call from Harry: the reason for sending them to Bruges is not just to lie low. Harry, who operates by a strict moral code, believes Ray must be killed for murdering the child. But he gives Ken the task, trusting his judgment.
Ken, torn between loyalty to Harry and compassion for Ray, decides to spare him. Harry learns of Ken’s betrayal, so he travels to Bruges to finish the job. A violent and tragic series of events unfolds. Ken sacrifices himself to protect Ray, jumping from a bell tower to warn him of Harry’s arrival, ultimately dying from his injuries.
The climax plays out amidst Bruges’s narrow, cobbled streets and the surreal film set involving Jimmy. Ray is shot multiple times by Harry, who mistakenly believes he has killed another child (Jimmy) during the crossfire. Adhering to his twisted sense of honor, Harry takes his own life.
As Ray is carried into an ambulance, barely conscious and bleeding out, he reflects on what has happened—on guilt, death, and whether he will live or die. The film ends with Ray’s ambiguous final thought: “I really, really hoped I wouldn’t die.”
‘In Bruges’ balances poetic dialogue, black humor, and sudden brutality. The film is a meditation on guilt, penance, and the hope for redemption, all wrapped in McDonagh’s signature blend of irreverence and sincerity. The juxtaposition of a fairy-tale-like setting with the gritty, violent world of hitmen adds a surreal, almost allegorical layer to the story.
The Other Cinema 