Deux jours, une nuit

Genre: workplace drama

With: Marion Cotillard (Sandra), Fabrizio Rongione (Manu), Catherine Salée (Juliette), Baptiste Sornin (Mr. Dumont), Pily Groyne (Estelle), Simon Caudry (Maxime), Alain Eloy (Willy), Lara Persain (Willy’s wife), Myriem Akheddiou (Mireille), Fabienne Sciascia (Nadine), Olivier Gourmet (Jean-Marc), Timur Magomedgadzhiev (Timur)

Directors: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne

Screenplay: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne

Release: 2014

Studio: Les Films du Fleuve, Archipel 35, BIM Distribuzione et al.

Rating: PG

MBiS score: 8.5/10 

 

‟I don't exist. I'm nothing. Nothing at all!” 

 

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Story-line: as she gets ready to resume work after a lengthy illness, Sandra learns that a vote has been held among her colleagues and that, given a choice between taking her back or receiving a €1000 bonus each to cover her workload, they have voted for the bonus. Undeterred by what she sees as an injustice, Sandra asks for a second vote.

Pluses: a dominant, emotionally-charged performance by Marion Cotillard, natural and measured acting by an able cast (Fabrizio Rongione, Olivier Gourmet and Timur Magomedgadzhiev are especially convincing), efficient, high-quality direction, a tight, no-frills screenplay that focuses on what’s essential and conveys crucial psychological insights, on-point dialogues, basic but eloquent cinematography, well-suited production values and a strong denouement.

Minuses: none, except for Sandra’s annoying cellphone ring (you’ll hear it often).

Comments: for some reason, I have trouble recognizing Marion Cotillard from one movie to the next – which may partly explain her status as one of France’s brightest, most versatile stars – and her performance here adds to her already fine resumé. DEUX JOURS, UNE NUIT is another low-budget marvel from the Dardenne brothers, a thoughtful and utilitarian tale about lives in jeopardy, self-interest, decency and workplace politics. This is the kind of cinema I appreciate: no superheroes, no far-flung story-lines… but real people dealing with real problems. Vital moviemaking at its best. 

 

MBiS 

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