Two Days, One Night

That is cinema at its best. Down to earth but eventually uplifting, extraordinary perfomances than ignite one's feeling and ability for empathy. A real life thriller which doesn't underestimate the viewer, nor tries to patronize . Unforgettable experience

On Friday afternoon, a factory worker (Marion Cotillard) is told that she'll be laid off on Monday if her colleagues vote for their bonuses instead of her. She has the weekend to visit each of them and state her case. To complicate matters, she's recovering from a serious depression. Each encounter adds a layer of humanity to her plight, but the drama is diluted by so much footage of her walking from house to house. Although it's never dull, the pace is deliberate and the emotions are often underplayed. Cotillard (nominated for an Oscar), is convincing, but the brilliance of her performance eludes me. This will be best appreciated by those who enjoy a quiet character study in the foreign film style.

Despite a capable (though somewhat-overrated) performance by Marion Cotillard and some thoughtful social messages, this exercise in narrative repetition grows tiresome as the film wears on, offering audiences fewer rewards than what the picture's premise seems to promise. Even with a scant runtime of only 1:35, the story tries the patience of viewers with the most resilient of attention spans. Wait for this one to come to DVD or cable before plunking down the cost of a full-priced theater ticket.

A uniquely simple idea makes for unusual albeit limited cinema. The story is of one woman's attempt to get her job back in the period of time stipulated by the title. To do this she has to convince her fellow workers to fore go their bonus in order for her to be reinstated. Marion Cotillard is the film's ace card and she gives a perfectly judged, nuanced performance elevating the slight material to a higher plane than it may have otherwise achieved. Unfortunately, the body of the film is, by the very nature of its content, to repetitive to really excite. Most of the central act shows Cotillard making house calls in an attempt to rally co-workers to her cause. Ultimately, though, these events leave one only mildly interested rather than compelled.

This is one of the dullest movies I've ever watched. Even the premise is dull. There's no real exposition at any point, which does not help. This woman goes around asking her coworkers to vote so she can keep her job. If they vote against her, they get pay bonuses. The coworkers say "yes" or "no." Then at the end, they vote. That's it. That's the whole movie.