Review of Two Days, One Night (2014) by Maksim B — 08 May 2015

Two Days, One Night is an emotionally engrossing social drama which to the surprise of many works as an extremely intense thriller. Depressing and provoking, this is a story of financial struggles, social disintegration and a sort of impressive study of the struggling European working class. With no preachiness or sentimentality Two Days, One Night is a story that will not provide you with easy answers or satisfying feel-good moments, but with hard to tackle questions on humanity and a memorable personal touch.

Sandra (Marion Cotillard) is a young working class woman who has struggled with depression and short after returning to work she understands that her colleagues have opted for her to be fired so that they could receive an annual bonus. Faced with the harsh reality of being jobless she has a weekend time to convince her colleagues to re-consider their vote in front of the management team. Supported by her husband, Sandra meets every co-worker pleading to reconsider his or her position. Even though at some moments the meetings with all workers might get repetitive the social context in which this happens is so suffocated with personal emotions that every meeting is a new challenge for the viewer. Everyone has his/her reasoning behind the vote and with every meeting the Dardenne brothers challenge the existence of the post-modern working class community and the social relationships. Their restrained touch on the dramatic side makes Two Days, One Night a delivery that stuns with its hard and down-to-earth Belgian realisim.

The provoking content of this Belgian cinematic gem is driven by the nuanced Oscar-worthy performance of Marion Cotillard. Fragile, on the verge of breaking down and yet desperately committed to keep her job, Sandra only sharpens the resentful feeling of the Dardennes' story. With her vulnerable presence, emotional pleas and final moral stand, Cotillard definitely delivers a performance that deserved at least the Oscar nomination she got. It would not be an overstatement if we say that currently Marion Cotillard is the best French international female export in the world of cinema.

In conclusion, Two Days, One Night is a formidable Belgian delivery that would not only please the fans of dramas, but also would surprise those looking for suspense (even though based on emotions and social grounds). Filled with honesty, compassion and bitter realism this is a delightful movie to see.