Two Days, One Night - B

Rated PG-13, 95 minutes
Wes's Grade: B
In French with English subtitles

French drama "Two Days, One Night" a powerful, well-acted statement on community

The power of community and voice can have both good and potentially negative effects on its inhabitants. The compelling new French-Belgian drama "Two Days, One Night" explores that, led by a subdued but strong turn from Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard ("The Dark Knight Rises"), who is nominated for the Oscar for Best Actress this year for the role. Sandra (Cotillard) has just been released from the hospital to find that she no longer has a job. According to management, the only way Sandra can hope to regain her position at the factory is to convince her co-workers to sacrifice their much-needed yearly bonuses. Now, over the course of one weekend, Sandra must confront each co-worker individually in order to win a majority of their votes before time runs out. Co-directed, produced and written by French filmmaking brothers Luc Dardenne and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, the unassuming thought-provoking drama is most memorable for the subtle but believable turn from Cotillard in one her best roles to date. It will make you think about the power of community and the democratic process; what can be good for one person can destroy another, and Sandra, who has struggled with depression and suffered a nervous breakdown, is on the verge of losing most everything in her life, including her understanding husband and kids. The satisfying "Two Days, One Night" can also be slow-moving and even uninvolving if you don't pay attention to its details, but it's memorable for the pensively believable performance from Oscar-winner Cotillard, whose Oscar nomination for the film is well-deserved.