This Sunday, January 25, at 10:30am, I will present Two Days, One Night (Deux jours, une unit) the new film by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne (1999 Cannes Palme d’Or-winner Rosetta, 2005 Cannes Palme d’Or-winner L’enfant), at Cinema Sundays at the Charles, Baltimore’s premier movie-preview series. Starring Marion Cotillard, who was just nominated for a 2015 Best Actress Oscar for this role, the film is a brilliant portrait of a woman at the end of her rope, who discovers heretofore unknown strength within herself at a moment of supreme crisis. Here is the one-line synopsis from the official press kit: “Sandra has only one weekend to visit her colleagues and – with the help of her husband – convince them to sacrifice their bonuses so she can keep her job.”
This is the first time the Dardennes have worked with an international movie star of Cotillard’s status, yet the film remains firmly within their minimalist aesthetic, and Cotillard brings all of her considerable talent to bear, without overshadowing any of the other performers. The movie has, so far, received extremely favorable reviews, so come and see, for yourself, what all of the fuss is about. See you Sunday!