The Memory of a Killer

The Memory of a Killer (originally titled De Zaak Alzheimer) is a gripping Belgian psychological thriller directed by Erik Van Looy. The story follows Angelo Ledda, a highly skilled and aging hitman who is beginning to experience the devastating cognitive decline of Alzheimer’s disease. When Ledda is contracted for a job that involves assassinating a 12-year-old girl, his personal moral code prevents him from completing the assignment. This refusal turns him from the hunter into the hunted, as his powerful employers seek to eliminate him.

As Ledda wages a one-man war against the criminal syndicate that hired him, he must also stay one step ahead of two dedicated police detectives, Eric Vincke and Freddy Verstuyft. The investigation quickly uncovers a deeply disturbing web of child prostitution and political corruption reaching the highest echelons of Belgian society. Ledda decides to use his remaining lucid moments to systematically execute those responsible for the horrific crimes, leaving a trail of clues for the police.

The film is a masterclass in suspense, blending intense action sequences with a tragic character study of a man losing his mind. Ledda’s struggle to remember crucial details, using ink on his arm to write down names and clues, adds a desperate race-against-time element to the narrative. The Memory of a Killer received widespread critical acclaim for its gritty realism, complex plotting, and powerful performances, eventually inspiring the 2022 American remake ‘Memory’ starring Liam Neeson.