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, Brendon Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes also reflect and develop the character?

Mise-en-scene is used a lot throughout the film to develop the characters of ray, Ken and Harry and there performance styles also reflect and develop the character. Ray is developed through mise en scene mainly by the props and locations used; Colin Farrell also develops and reflects Ray by his performance style as he acts sad and guilt. Harry is developed through mise-en-scene through location, props used, costume and his hair, ralph Fiennes develops and reflects harry by his acting aggressive changing his accent and changing his appearance. Ken is developed through mise-en-scene by the location and costume, Brendon Gleeson also develops and reflects ray by acting calm and natural.

Ray is developed in ‘In Bruges’ through mise-en-scene. This is mainly through location because the fact that he doesn’t like sightseeing and looking round Bruges as he asks if Ken thinks if its good “going round in a boat looking at stuff” and just wants to get drunk showing the character as being immature and childish. The prop used in the film also develops Ray, this prop is a gun which develops the character showing that he has a darker side to him and it distinguishes him from being a normal person.  Colin Farrell also develops Ray through his acting style because he acts normal however he makes it seem like there’s something on his mind all the time, developing the character showing that he regrets things and feels guilty about something, which we later find out is the shooting of the boy. Colin Farrell also develops Ray by acting suicidal showing that Ray is unstable and insecure in himself as he says “I’ll kill myself in a fortnight anyway”.

Harry is developed throughout the film by the use of location because the first scene Harrys in, he’s in a massive house, developing his character by showing that he’s rich and that he must be a good and experienced criminal to have earned this much money. The gun used when he first comes to Bruges develops the character as it shows that he is well connected and an important person, it also shows that he’s a ruthless cruel man.  His costume is smart and he is always wearing a suit showing that he is a smart business related criminal and this conveys to him always saying that it’s just “good business” to ken.  Harry’s hair develops his character because it is all shaved off showing that he is a tough brutal man and links to him being a London gangster. Ralph Fiennes performance relates and develops Harry is he is serious and aggressive, he give this impression by swearing all the time especially in the scene when he’s on the phone to harry and swears unnecessarily for example he says “it’s a fairy tale fucking town”. Ralph Fiennes changes he’s accent to a coutney accent to develop the role so we know he’s a London gangster he also shaves his hair to show this.  Ralph Fiennes rarely blinks throughout the whole performance developing on the fact that harry is slightly crazy. Ralph Fiennes also reflects the fact that Harry does have a bit of a heart when he chooses not to kill Ken.

Ken is developed through the use of mise-en-scene by location and costume. Location develops Ken as a normal everyday person as he enjoys looking round the sight of Bruges which isn’t usual of the typical gangster or hit man.  Ken’s costume is the traditional suit of a gangster showing that he is experienced and has been doing what he’s doing for years; it also shows he’s clever and knows what he’s doing. Brendon Gleeson’s performance is very calm and relaxed, showing that he’s experienced and expressing the difference between Ken and Ray as ray is new to it and agitated and panicked, whereas Ken is used to it so is the opposite. The way Brendon Gleeson shows the change in Ken from him being calm and wanted to be professional and not draw attention to himself to him not caring when he finds out he has to kill Ray, develops Ken’s character as it shows he really cares about Ray and is protective over him. Also the fact the Brendon Gleeson is so still and peaceful when he’s about to be killed and accepts this, develops Ken showing that he is fearless and always expects death.

Mise-en-scene is used a lot to develop the characters mainly through the location of Bruges and the guns used showing there all ruthless people. The costume also develops the characters as it can show some of them as being experienced and knowledgeable. The performances of the actors help to develop and reflect the characters and show the human side to gangsters and hitman.