We live in a time when even job unions, created to protect the workers, are unable to help when the companies use their employees as a weapon against each other. The Dardenne brothers (Jean-Pierre and Luc) stay true to their strengths in Two Days, One Night. The film follows Sandra (Marion Cotillard), a wife and mother who recently suffered a mental breakdown stemming from work-related stress and possibly untreated postpartum depression. She gets out of the hospital, ready to go back to work at the solar panel plant only to discover that she has become redundant. To make up for the missing person, the company finds that they can compensate by extending everyone’s hours. Then, to make sure Sandra won’t be taken back, they offer the current employees a bonus for doing the extra work. In order to keep their bonuses, the 16 of them have to vote to either keep their bonuses or let Sandra return.
With the voting deadline right around the corner, she must visit each person and convince them to forego their much needed bonus for her sake. The only person on her side who is supportively nudging her to fight the decision is her husband (and Dardenne film veteran) Manu (Fabrizio Rongione). On her journey she finds out how much her coworkers value money over the relationships they have. Many outright say no, some lash out in anger, a few agree to vote in her favor, and the rest are left up in the air. On her quest to get at least 9 out of the 16 people on her side, we witness the greed and charity of society, and the bigger companies and corporations that are causing it.
The writers/directors Dardenne don’t employ any gimmicks or special effects to get their points across. Their humble and natural settings are just one element that helps set their typically fictional stories into something that can (and believably does) exist in the realm of reality. Two Days, One Night develops the tension subtly and slowly, which only makes the explosive high notes all the sweeter. At no point do you feel coerced into any feelings of empathy or disdain, because the writing and the story naturally take you to those feelings without coming off the least bit disingenuous. You sympathize with the situation and even understand the coworkers’ reluctance or outright rejection to help out Sandra. If makes you consider how you would react in the same situation, and while we all would think that we would take the noble route, many of us might get stuck in our own hypocrisies.
The great story and directing would be nothing without a talented cast to bring the entire thing to life. This is where the continued use of Fabrizio Rongione comes in. He has been in almost all of the Dardenne brothers’ productions, and for a well-deserved reason: he’s a great actor. His character is very much a supporting character in both his film role and his part in the story. He is there to help move the story along when the lead character cannot. He provides stability and is the anchor of the entire film. Marion Cotillard’s role should not be discounted, though. After her performance in The Immigrant earlier this year, she has shown us her triumphant return to the leading spotlight, this time playing a woman who is on the losing end of a battle with depression. The wide range of emotions she displays in this film alone is enough to eclipse any of the mainstream American films she has done to date. In this film, we are reminded of Cotillard’s depth and wide range of emotions, along with her ability to play every nuance and subtlety. It is like a great return to her roots, and one of the many reasons we originally fell in love with her in the first place in such films as La Vie en Rose.
There are very few good applicants to take the position of “Best Holiday Film” this Christmas, but Two Days, One Night is a real contender. The social commentary and completely moving and relevant topics alone are enough to make this a standout film. Not to mention the great writing brought to life by the talented Marion Cotillard, who is back in the element she has shown us she thrives in: French cinema. It shouldn’t take you a weekend to decide whether or not to see this film. Two Days, One Night is the “bonus” of this holiday season.
RATING: ★★★★★★★★★(9/10 stars)
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