Two Days; One Night
A working-class French woman struggles with depression and unemployment in 'Two Days, One Night' (Deux jours, une nuit). A stellar performance by Marion Cotillard playing the lead, Sandra Bya, makes this film work. She plays an unusual protagonist during the movie as her character is exposed with each encounter she has with her co-workers. The film's hidden antagonist is an economic system, global capitalism, that pits workers against one another while they grasp for a middle class life-style as it slips slowly through their fingers. Few of the workers seem content with what they have though none of them are destitute, yet. Some of the workers are sympathetic to Sandra's plight, others are hostile. Her responses to their reactions further exposes her character.
Filmed in Belgian suburbs, "Two Days, One Night" follows Sandra as she travels by bus, car and on foot to meet her co-workers from the solar power assembly plant in an effort to keep her job. Each worker has their situation that dictates if they support her or not. That's the film. "Two Days, One Night" is not complicated in its technique. The editing and filming are simple and don't interfere with the action, and they are appropriate to the subject.
Sandra's back story is slowly revealed during the film. However, it doesn't give enough detail. What is missing is what the triggers were that brought her to the hospital for medical attention. Perhaps the writers thought that her post hospital struggle was what was important, not the causes of her suffering. Perhaps they are correct.
The film ends on a note of hope and dignity, but we are not left with pat answers. The ending doesn't give us obvious answers light many films do. 'Two Days, One Night' leaves us wondering if humanity is worth fighting for, and the protagonist answers: "oui!" Well, sort of. Rating: Pay full price.
This film is hard to rank. On one hand, it's not the most entertaining film I have seen in the last year. On the other hand, its stark realism and development of character along with excellent acting brings a realism to the film that is lacking in today's cinema. If you want a laugh a minute, then rent this movie. You will still find parts worth watching such as the acting and dialogue. If you like good acting and character development, if you want to think about humanity's role on this planet and consider your place in the world, pay full price to see it in the theater.
Peace, Tex Shelters
A working-class French woman struggles with depression and unemployment in 'Two Days, One Night' (Deux jours, une nuit). A stellar performance by Marion Cotillard playing the lead, Sandra Bya, makes this film work. She plays an unusual protagonist during the movie as her character is exposed with each encounter she has with her co-workers. The film's hidden antagonist is an economic system, global capitalism, that pits workers against one another while they grasp for a middle class life-style as it slips slowly through their fingers. Few of the workers seem content with what they have though none of them are destitute, yet. Some of the workers are sympathetic to Sandra's plight, others are hostile. Her responses to their reactions further exposes her character.
Filmed in Belgian suburbs, "Two Days, One Night" follows Sandra as she travels by bus, car and on foot to meet her co-workers from the solar power assembly plant in an effort to keep her job. Each worker has their situation that dictates if they support her or not. That's the film. "Two Days, One Night" is not complicated in its technique. The editing and filming are simple and don't interfere with the action, and they are appropriate to the subject.
Sandra's back story is slowly revealed during the film. However, it doesn't give enough detail. What is missing is what the triggers were that brought her to the hospital for medical attention. Perhaps the writers thought that her post hospital struggle was what was important, not the causes of her suffering. Perhaps they are correct.
The film ends on a note of hope and dignity, but we are not left with pat answers. The ending doesn't give us obvious answers light many films do. 'Two Days, One Night' leaves us wondering if humanity is worth fighting for, and the protagonist answers: "oui!" Well, sort of. Rating: Pay full price.
This film is hard to rank. On one hand, it's not the most entertaining film I have seen in the last year. On the other hand, its stark realism and development of character along with excellent acting brings a realism to the film that is lacking in today's cinema. If you want a laugh a minute, then rent this movie. You will still find parts worth watching such as the acting and dialogue. If you like good acting and character development, if you want to think about humanity's role on this planet and consider your place in the world, pay full price to see it in the theater.
Peace, Tex Shelters