Martin McDonagh is behind some true gems, from the wickedSeven Psychopathsto last year’stremendousThe Banshees of Inisherin. However, his now-prestigious career began with a little 2008 film that turned 15 earlier this year.In Brugesstars Oscar nominees Colin Farrell as Ray and Brendan Gleeson as Ken, two hitmen hiding in the picturesque city of Bruges after a job goes terribly wrong.
Time has been kind toIn Bruges, with many considering it among the 21st century’s finest black comedies. However, the film has received a second, more peculiar reexamination as an unexpected, yet satisfying Christmas classic. A biting, occasionally cruel, and tragic black comedy about two lonely hitmen might not be anyone’s idea of a holly, jolly Christmas movie –alas, and against all odds,In Brugesis just that. Why? Well, for starters, it’s set on Christmas. However, the film’s holiday connections run deeper than just that.
What makes a great Christmas movie?
To understandIn Bruges‘ status as a great Christmas movie, one must first understand what makesa great Christmas movie. It’s not necessarily the setting, as many films can be spiritually Christmas-coded — think ofLars and the Real Girl,You’ve Got Mail, or even something likeIron Man 3. It’s not the holiday cheer, either, asplenty of Christmas movies are remarkably sad. It’s not even sticking to a well-established formula, asmany Christmas classics are unafraid to experimentwithin those confinements.
No, what defines a great Christmas movie is theemotionit evokes; every Christmas classic must make you feel something. Most settle for nostalgia, the memories of a wonderful time when all was innocent and carefree, or sheer and unadulterated joy – ’tis the season, after all. However, holiday films can also be wistful, celebratory, romantic, mischievous, or comforting. It matters not the emotion they evoke; the important thing is that they evoke something in you. This is the primal aspect of a great Christmas movie: more than just entertain, they engage with their viewers, actively trying to make their way to a person’s heart.
Not all of them do, of course, but most succeed, at least for the time between the title card and the credits. Think ofthe constant influx of Hallmark moviescoming out every year — they make you feel something: longing, joy, cringe, you name it. You might forget about them as soon as the TV is off, but they still leave a warm feeling inside. But the best leave something that actually lingers, a flame that goes out from January to November, only to be lit again as soon as the turkey is consumed and the twinkling lights are on. When it comes to holiday entertainment, feeling is the name of the game.
So, is In Bruges actually a Christmas movie?
Well, yes. Think about the first time you watchedIn Bruges. Didn’t it feel like a present just waiting to be unwrapped? You think you’re watching a black comedy about two hitmen, and you are; however, there’s so much more to unpack with it. The plot is as surprising as it’s devilish, a never-ending string of surprises, some pleasant and others rotten.
McDonagh’s plot is unrelenting and unexpectedly fast-paced, not wasting a single minute of the film’s 107 minutes. More importantly, he finds the right balance between genuine humor and astonishingly piercing drama that borders on tragedy, a unique ability not many writers possess.
Beyond evoking feelings necessary to qualify as a Christmas movie,In Brugesfeatures many of the main thematic strings found in the best holiday classics. At its core,In Brugesis about making the best out of the worst possible situation. Bruges is the film’s punching bag, but the true meaning comes from Ray’s journey with guilt and depression.In Brugesis a film about trying to rediscover joy, pulling oneself from the darkest pits of despair and plunging into something more hopeful. What better place to set it in than in Bruges, somewhere between heaven and hell?
In Brugesis also about another timeless Christmas theme: forgiveness. Ray’s struggle to forgive himself is compelling, if not necessarily sympathetic, much less relatable, especially considering his crime is the murder of a child. But the film treats his journey with tremendous emotional depth, allowing us to go along with it. Because he doesn’t excuse his actions, we don’t either, and watching him fight to evade his punishment, even though he is well aware he deserves it, is engaging, evocative, and riveting.
I’ll be in Bruges for Christmas
Like the best Christmas movies,In Brugesstays with you: its biting, absurdist humor; its gloomy yet strangely promising mood; its unwavering, bittersweet desolation.In Brugesis a masterful study of the treacherous side of human nature and its insistent desire to survive. The film examines human connection at all its levels — friendship, romance, companionship, and the passing yet meaningful bonds we make with strangers. In more ways than one,In Brugesexamines togetherness and the power that human connection has in an individual’s life. One’s trajectory can change at any moment, even when a person is hiding, trying to avoid life at any cost.
It’s true thatIn Brugesdoesn’t need the Christmas element to exist — nothing about its plot needs the holiday cheer to function. The story could be set in the summer, and nothing would be different except for an overabundance of tourists making things worse for Ray. However, it does need the holidays to evoke within us, the audience, something akin to understanding and empathy — after all, would we react the same to Ray if not for the quaint Christmas vibe surrounding Bruges? Perhaps we feel more compelled to relate to him because of the holiday spirit?
In Brugesis not a typical Christmas movie, that much is true; however, as it turns out, it is an effective one. So, if you’ve had your fill of cheesy romances, magical antics, and animated adventures, why not spend 107 minutes with two messed-up hitmen trying to make the best out of a really terrible situation?In Bruges, much like its titular city, is not for everyone, but those who allow themselves to discover its unique charm will undoubtedly find something rewarding within.
In Brugesis available torent on Amazon Primein the U.S. and Canada.
