Two Days, One Night
Genre :
Year : 2014
Director : Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Screenplay : Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Starring : Marion Cotillard, Fabrizio Rongione

This is a quite moving French language drama, and proof that good drama can come from a relatively simple story, something which means a lot to those involved but which would never hit the headlines.

At the centre of events is Sandra (Marion Cotillard) who has been suffering from depression, and who has lost her job because her employer has held a ballot in her absence, in which her workmates were invited to vote on whether she should be allowed back to work. If they voted ‘no’, they would each qualify for a 1,000 euro bonus.

The vote does indeed come out against Sandra, but she persuades the boss that there should be a re-vote on the grounds that her colleagues were unduly influenced by the foreman.

This is to take place on a Monday and urged by her husband, Sandra prepares to spend the weekend persuading her colleagues one by one to vote for her re-instatement.

She also needs to persuade herself of her own value. For Sandra, the job is important, for the others, the bonus is important. There are no rich families here.

The reactions Sandra gets vary wildly. One colleague breaks down in shame at voting against her initially, and she also causes a punch-up and a marriage break-up.

She gets some support. How will it finish? Will she be re-instated?

At one point I thought it was simply going to end before the ballot, but rest assured that does not happen. A very involving drama.

8 out of 10 -

mike@mikes-movies.co.uk

A COLLECTION OF INDEPENDENT FILM & MOVIE REVIEWS BY MIKE HUNTER
Thanks to David Kinvig for the header cartoon

web analytics