Review: Two Days, One Night

The Dardenne brothers craft their most accessible film to date with the stirring morality tale Two Days, One Night. Marion Cotillard is phenomenal, earning an Oscar nomination here, as a woman forced to plead on her coworkers to save her job. The film is as compassionate as it is committed to its political views and all the better for the bravery of its commitment.


The film begins by dropping us right into this horrifying situation that Sandra, Cotillard, finds herself in. The union boss of the solar panel plant she works at has pitted her coworkers against her. They must choose between keeping their year end bonus of a thousand euros or allowing her to keep her job. We learn quickly that Sandra had taken an extended sick leave for mental health issues. The opposition to her stems from the belief that she may be mentally unstable.


Cotillard delivers a naturalistic performance that goes down as one of the best lead actress performances of the decade. The Dardennes have always done a great job at creating an uninterrupted visual style that lends a realistic, fly-on-the-wall feel. Here it makes the film feel immediate. We are never allowed a moment away from Sandra. The effect is an immense sense of intimacy that makes the film feel honest in every moment.


Overall Two Days, One Night stands as a powerful tale of modern times that balances a verite style with a great sense of hope. That the film is re-watchable and easy to recommend is nothing short of a testament to the growing talents of the Dardennes. This may very well be their finest moment.


5/5