In Bruges is a black comedy-drama crime thriller film [ 4 ] directed and written by Martin McDonagh in his feature-length debut. The film is set and was filmed in Bruges , Belgium. In Bruges was the opening night film of the Sundance Film Festival [ 7 ] and opened in limited release in the United States on 8 February Carrying out orders, inexperienced hitman Ray shoots a priest during confession , but accidentally kills a young boy standing behind him.
He and his mentor Ken are sent to hide in Bruges by their boss Harry, where they are to sightsee and await further instruction. Ken finds the city beautiful and relaxing, while Ray is bored and hates it. They chance upon a film shoot involving a dwarf actor, which amuses Ray. He takes her to a restaurant, where he gets into an argument with a Canadian couple over smoking indoors and punches them.
Ray effortlessly disarms the small-time criminal and fires the gun, loaded with blanks , in Eirik's face, blinding him in one eye. He and Ken spend a debauched night with the dwarf actor, Jimmy, who takes cocaine and rants about a coming war between blacks and whites.
Harry calls Ken and reveals that the trip was an attempt to give Ray a good experience before he dies. He orders Ken to kill Ray, on the principle that killing a child, even accidentally, is unforgivable. With a handgun supplied by Harry's local contact Yuri, Ken tracks Ray to a park and reluctantly prepares to kill him. Ray, however, distraught at his killing of the boy, prepares to kill himself with Eirik's loaded gun. Seeing this, Ken stops Ray, informs him of Harry's order and tells him to leave Bruges to have a fresh start.
He gives Ray some money and puts him on a train to another city, while confiscating his gun to prevent a further suicide attempt. Ken phones Harry to tell him the truth, and Harry immediately sets out for Bruges, furious at the insubordination.
