How does 'In Bruges' use mise-en-scene to reflect and develop the characters of Ray, Ken and Harry? How do the performance styles of Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes also reflect and develop the characters?

"Fuck man, maybe that's what hell is. The entire rest of eternity spent in fucking Bruges."

In Bruges was created in 2008, based within the actual country Bruges is based around two assassins and one main who owns both Ray and Ken... Well has hired them to do his dirty work for him although he is highly capable of doing so himself. In this essay I will be reflecting how mise-en-scene has been used to develop the characters Ray, Ken and Harry.

We begin the film with a voice-over of the character Ray played by Colin Farrell, from this particular voice-over we can already determine some characteristics of Ray; for example we can hear that he is Irish. Ray as a character by his introduction is quite a non-chalet man as he describes how he committed a murder with no sense of remorse or regret. "After I killed him I dropped the gun in the Thames washed the residue off my hands in the bathroom of a burger king" This particular statement implying that the murder that he has just committed meant nothing to him. When we are first shown Ray we are shown a young man with quite a shabby look to him which is enforced through both his clothing, facial hair and hair.  Ray's hair is short and scruffy, as are his eyebrows which I think gives his character more of a uniqueness to it. Not only does it emphasise Ray's 'Shabbiness' but the idea of Ray being this sour young man. As is shown by how he uses his clothing to emphasise his boredom this is done by him pulling up the collar of his jacket and wrapping himself as to look quite anti-social. 

Ray in this particular scene is shown sat on a canoe across Ken, as Ken looks as if he is about to explode with happiness with his surroundings where on the other-hand Ray looks completely out of place and again emphasising on the fact that he is indeed 'Anti-social' as he is sat opposite of Ken with the look of disgust upon him. In the beginning of the film we see Ray and Ken walk out from the train station with two contrasting emotions; Ray is completely distressed and unamused whereas Ken has a look of happiness and adoration upon his face. In terms of Ray's surroundings we can see that it isn't where he nor anyone else would place him just because of his character and how Colin Farrell has portrayed him. Ray as a character as stated before comes across as quite a bitter young man, the way in which this is portrayed by Collin is through his usage of body language... So to speak the way that Ray slouches and in-particular the scene whereby Ray agrees to do anything Ken wants. Within the scene Ray drags his feet to emphasise how bored he is and in a way to imply that he is quite childish. As stated by Ken "Like some five year old who's dropped all his sweets" In this scene, Ray attempts to find interest with what Ken is saying/ his surroundings but is unable to do so because he honestly holds no interest whatsoever... A scene which completely contrasts from what he have already learnt from Ray's character is one where he visits an art gallery in Bruges. In this scene we see; Ray looking over a number of paintings some with a look of disgust and others with utter complete shock and again boredom until he finds one "I quite like this one, all the rest are rubbish spastics but this one's quite good" The reason in which this particular scene shows a different side of Ray and contrasts from the character we have known to accept is the basic fact whereby Ray makes a comment on the work and goes on to ask Ken what the picture actually means. In terms of Ray's character, this wouldn't be considered as a stereotyped action for him to do though through this we the audience begins to think that maybe... Just maybe Ray has finally found his "place" within Burges. 

Harry's character is unknown to the audience as to what he looks like/ who he's played by and who as a whole he is... We are aware that there is a constant "he" as said by Ken and Ray "He's not going to ring tonight" the first mention we have of Harry is the first time that Ray and Ken visit a pub in Bruges where they have a conversation started by Ray and his hatred for the country. We can already tell by the way that Ray and Ken speak of this 'he' character that he is in charge therefore once Ray states "Harry, thank you for the trip to Bruges, it's been very nice, but we're coming back to London now and hide out in a proper country where it isn't all just fucking chocolate" After Ray has finished his sentence we are now aware as to who this mysterious 'he' is. Within the same conversation, Ken states "Harry can get guns anywhere" this gives Harry's character more of an dangerous appeal. The first time that we see Harry is the scene where Ken sends Ray off in the hopes that he would not be found by Harry as he himself has no-idea where he is going... Ken informs Harry through the phone after hanging up we are shown Harry's reaction. Harry who is played by Ralph Fiennes has a cockney accent and is British this distinctive difference is made clear to us due to Ray and Ken both being Irish which is also shown through their accents and also implied through their cultural upbringing in terms of how openly they discuss race. The first scene we have where we see Harry is of him looking at the phone in absolute anger and then smashing the phone against his desk. If the statement said by Ken before does not suggest to us that Harry is a abusive/ violent as a character then the note written to Ken and Ray from Harry would beg to differ.

"Number One, why aren't you in when I fucking told you to be in? Number Two, why doesn't this hotel have phones with fucking voicemail and not have to leave messages with the fucking receptionist? Number Three, you better fucking be in tomorrow night when I fucking call again or there'll be fucking hell to pay. I'm fucking telling you - Harry."

This note that Harry leaves implies that he as a character is quite aggressive and swears quite a lot. When we are first introduced to Harry we are shown him in a dress top and suit pants from this first glance we can already see that Harry is all business. In terms of Harry's surroundings we can again see that he is surrounded by quite a formal and wealthy looking office. At first glance as it is a close up of Harry and a phone all we see is Harry's disgust/ anger towards Ken yet aimed towards the phone in the background we see double windows with mahogany coloured curtains which could be a symbol of Harry's blood thirst as Harry is also clutching to the phone. We are then zoomed out to see Harry smash the phone against the table top which then again reinforces the 'violent' personality that we as the audience have given to him... What makes it worse is the dialogue said afterwards with his Wife; Natalie. "Natalie: Harry! Harry: [stops] What? Natalie: It's an inanimate fucking object! Harry: You're an inanimate fucking object" Afterwards we are shown a scene of Harry with his kids which is a complete contrast from everything we thought of Harry. We considered him to be this cold hearted killer when in fact he is married with kids, when speaking to his children he has more of a soft voice because of this we begin to re-judge Harry and hope that there is some good in him. The body language completely changes when Harry portrays two different emotions when angry he is more stern whereas when he is speaking to his children is more calm and content and at the same time teaching his kids how important 'honour' and sticking to your word means to him. Harry also apologises to his wife for calling her an inanimate object. Which again emphasises on this 'soft' character side of Harry. In terms of the first assumption we have of Harry's character it is then again reinforced to us that Harry still has that hard side to him. This being because once he lands in Bruges he has a certain air to him whereby he not only looks self assured but it is shown by his walk and how confident he actually is, that nothing can harm him.

Ken, as a character within Bruges is your stereotypical tourist. Within the country Ken looks as if, he wouldn't want to be anywhere else because of this we already know that there is a huge contrast between both Ken and Ray: this is again shown through the dialogue that takes place between both Ken and Ray "Ray: Do you think this is good? Ken: Do I think what's good? Ray: You know, going around in a boat, looking at stuff? Ken: Yes, I do. It's called sight-seeing." Ken's character is one of which is bubbly and is shown as an constant optimist this is because of Ken's genuine perspective on life and where he and Ray are. When we first see Ken we are shown quite a large male with ginger hair, your typical irish with ginger locks and a bubbly personality topped with the strong accent allows us to assume that Ken is nothing like Ray or Harry... Throughout the film we are shown different aspects of Ken most of the time he is able to bear Ray's attitude towards the country until they visit the "Basilica of the Holy Blood" whereby we are shown Kens true personality where he expresses his passion for history and all it's glory. Whilst visiting the 'Basilica of the Holy Blood' Ken explains to Ray what it is he is about to do then asks if he would like to join him as shown in the dialogue below:

Ken: Up there, the top altar, is a vial brought back by a Flemish knight from the Crusades in the Holy Land. And that vial, do you know what it's said to contain?
Ray: No, what's it said to contain?
Ken: It's said to contain some drops of Jesus Christ's blood. Yeah, that's how this church got its name. Basilica of the Holy Blood.
Ray: Yeah. Yeah.
Ken: And this blood, right, though it's dried blood, at different times over many years, they say it turned back into liquid. Turned back into liquid from dried blood. At various times of great stress.
Ray: Yeah?
Ken: Yeah. So, yeah, I'm gonna go up in the queue and touch it, which is what you do.
Ray: Yeah?
Ken: Yeah. You coming?
Ray: Do I have to?
Ken: Do you have to? Of course you don't have to. It's Jesus' fucking blood, isn't it? Of course you don't fucking have to! Of *course* you don't fucking have to!

This particular conversation shows just how much Ken actually knows and how intelligent he is as a character but at the same time it shows his disbelief towards Ray and his absolute zero interest in culture. When Ken is placed within sectors of culture and buildings he is absolutely lost for words and stares in absolute awe which reflects his character in terms of how intelligent Ken is and how he is an appreciator of the finer things in life. Throughout the film Ken is shown as the father like figure towards Ray constantly making sure he is okay, and does not get into trouble all because he was informed by Harry to do so. In terms of how strictly Ken follows Harry's orders it implies that not only is Ken intelligent but loyal too. In terms of Kens clothing it is similar to Ray whereby he also has a trench coat but rather than jeans and a top he is constantly dressed in a suit... Which could also insinuate that Ken is always ready for death to approach him. This is proven within the film of Ken's actual death, whereby before going to meet up with Harry he dresses himself in a black suit as if Harry himself is death. When it is indeed Ken's time to die he does not fight he simply accepts his fate and informs Harry of his respect that he has for him;

"Harry. I am totally in your debt. The things that's gone between us in the past, I love you unreservedly for all that. For your integrity, for your honour. I love you. The boy had to be let go. The boy had to be given a chance. And if to do that I had to say fuck you and fuck what I owe you and fuck everything that's gone on between us then that's what I had to do. But I ain't fighting you. And I accept totally everything you've got to do. I accept it totally." 

This particular statement which Ken says before being shot in the leg proves that even on his last breathe he will spend it saving someone else proving that not only is Ken an intelligent and loyal character but also giving us that hint of love and compassion.

In conclusion in terms of mise-en-scene being used to reflect and develop the characters of Ray, Ken and Harry it has been used well in a sense that all characteristics used for each character is apart of the characters personality. In terms of the actors chosen to portray all three character, I personally think it was a brilliant choice this being because they all ranged in terms of age, height and weight but all were indeed men and shared this plus a passion for killing although each character has their own belief behind why they kill they still share that same blood thirst.