TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT

Belgium, 2014, 100 minutes, Colour.
Marion Cotillard, Fabrizio Rongione, Olivier Grenier.
Directed by Jean- Pierre and Luc Dardenne.

When we see the names of the Dardenne brothers on any film we can be sure that it is a film of quality and it will be a film which makes telling social comment on contemporary issues. This is certainly true of Two Days, One Night.

What we have is a look at contemporary Western Europe, on employment and unemployment, and competition for jobs, difficulties in the workplace, especially for people suffering from mental illness and, especially, depression.

This is indicated by the title: the action takes place over a day, and night, a day. They are Saturday, Saturday night and Sunday. However, the film opens on Friday afternoon, with a vote at a solar panel factory in a Belgian town, where the workers vote to accept a 1000 euro bonus and not to let Sandra, who has been absent from work for some weeks, to get her old job back. Two of the 16 workers voted for her. One of them, Juliette, urges her to go to see the manager so that there can be another vote on the morning when Sandra has had the opportunity to canvass the workers and persuade them to have some compassion for her – which does mean sacrificing their bonus.

Oscar-winner Marion Cottillard plays Sandra. In their earlier films, the Dardenne Brothers used little-known actors, except for their regular Olivier Gourmet, who makes an appearance in this film at the end, playing Jean- Marc who has opposed Sandra, undermining the attitudes of the other workers. In their previous film, The Kid with a Bike, they chose a well-known star, Cecile de France. The use of a star does mean that the Dardennes’ films get wider release. And deservedly so.

Sandra is married to a chef, Manu (Fabrizio Rongione), and they have two children. Sandra has not quite recovered from the illness, sometimes does not want to get out of bed and face the day. She loves her husband who, she fears, may be moving from love to pity because of her condition. However, it is Manu who encourages Sandra over the weekend to make the visits, often driving her from one to the other.

On the Friday, Juliette gives Sandra a number of addresses and connects her with one of the workers who is favourable and who confirms his vote for her. Encouraged by this, Sandra and Manu, set out on the Saturday morning.

It may have been at this moment that a certain amount of dread arose, that we would spend the next 90 minutes going from house to house – and wondering how interesting that would be. The film is worth the perseverance. Sandra does go from house to house but we meet a number of ordinary but interesting characters, some sympathetic, some desperate, some grateful to Sandra for help in the past, some whose financial situations rely on the promise of the bonus.

These are ordinary people in the street, dependent on their jobs, most of whom have some feelings for Sandra, but a number of them, even wishing her well, cannot vote for her.

By the Sunday afternoon, Sandra feels desperate and empties a bottle of Xanax, Manu finding her and rushing her to hospital. She is not in there long and perseveres in some final visits.

There are some dramatic tensions as the workers go in for the vote on Monday morning, some solutions suggested, with the Dardenne Brothers drawing on their compassion for human nature and promising some hope.

1. Film of social concern? The career of the Dardenne brothers and their interest in social issues? French-speaking Belgium? The background of Western Europe, employment, financial issues? The economy? Labour and the effect on ordinary people, unemployment?

2. The town of Seraing, the homes, the streets, diners, the factory? The musical score? The songs?

3. The title, which days, which night?

4. Marion Cotillard’s performance as Sandra? Her screen presence, skills, embodying Sandra, communicating her inner life?

5. Sandra’s situation, work at the factory, clinical depression, breakdown, hospitalisation? Her recovery, yet her dependence on pills and taking many of them? The situation, her love for Manu, the tensions during a depression? Her love for her children, the scenes with them, meals, outings, picking them up, phone calls?

6. The situation about her return to work, the vote against her, Juliette and her friendship, the phone calls, concern? Sandra not wanting to go to M. Dumont, the urging of Manu and Juliette? Manu and his influence, rightly or wrongly? Her attitude towards him, accusing him of pity rather than love?

7. Going to M. Dumont, the story of Jean- Marc and his talk against her, the vote on the Friday? The discussion with M. Dumont, his having left the office, his agreement to a new vote?

8. Juliette and her help, the phone call to Kader, his agreement, supplying the addresses, the plan? Sandra’s strength going on the visits, talking, compassion, understanding those who voted against her, Manu driving, the lunch with the children, her wanting to go? The way she was treated? Upset, gratitude? The decision to take all the Xanax, going to the hospital? Released and going with Manu for further visits?

9. The insight into human nature with the various visits: the husband and his wife on the dole, having to get old tiles? Melanie and considerations about money, the new man in her life? Nadine not talking to Sandra, but phoning others? Anne, the money for the patio, her brutal husband and his treatment? The emotional effect of these encounters on Sandra? Yvon and his violent son, leading to the fight? Meeting Julian in the street, the hard times, his sympathy for her but wanting the bonus? Timur, training the children at sport, the favours that Sandra had done him and his gratitude, his phone call to others? Alphonse, in the laundry, the issue of the contract and his depending on it, his being blamed? The man who was kind but sad having to refuse…?

10. Work situations, financial issues, paying oil and gas, bonuses, being on the dole, training sport, domestic violence…? Repairs, work contracts?

11. The issues of pity and compassion? Alphonse and his bringing in God, goodwill and doing good for others?

12. The impact of all the visits, on Sandra, on Manu? Anne and her leaving her husband, staying in the house with Sandra and Manu?

13. The Monday, Manu dropping Sandra at work, Jean- Marc and his intervention, his being asked to leave the meeting, Sandra leaving? The vote, 8-8? Sandra losing her job? Meeting the supporters in the cafeteria, thanking them? Going to M. Dumon’s office, his offer of the job, but at Alphonse’s expense?
Sandra refusing?

14. Sandra in the street, asserting herself, the phone call to Manu, the new happiness, a new self-confidence, the new search?