If you are curious to check this movie out and see what all the fuss at Cannes and of the critics is about, just like me, I would recommend you to save the money. "Two days, One Night" is a more than decent film, but nothing else. The problem is the fact that it thinks too highly of itself.
Why do I say that? Many critics have praised the movie for its honesty, the pureness of its message and the delicacy. Well I really disagree. There certainly is an extent of honesty in the staging of the family everyday life, but with all its intrusive long takes, its high number of aimless long scenes, some key dialogue lines that feel out of nowhere, a couple too many cringe moments and, most importantly, its disappointing ending, I found the film to be much more manipulative and convenient, than honest. The ending did not make a point to me and was a total 180 from where the whole movie was going, it felt very convenient and in no way ended the movie, There had to be ten minutes more or ten minutes less for it to stamp something.
That is not to say that there aren't many thinks to like. Marion Cotilliard, first and foremost alongside the widely interesting look at humanity, offered by the movie. This isn't your general black and white statement offered-in-the-last-five-minutes type of reflection, under which many dramas fall. This is a profound analysis of what does it mean to be thrust into an impossible situation and how would each of us deal with it if put in the same place. This combined with the premise of the movie is enough to keep the 95 minutes going fluently without ever boring things down, but never during the movie did I feel profound emotional connection with any of the characters. I wanted it to be slightly more nastier and dramatic.
Why do I say that? Many critics have praised the movie for its honesty, the pureness of its message and the delicacy. Well I really disagree. There certainly is an extent of honesty in the staging of the family everyday life, but with all its intrusive long takes, its high number of aimless long scenes, some key dialogue lines that feel out of nowhere, a couple too many cringe moments and, most importantly, its disappointing ending, I found the film to be much more manipulative and convenient, than honest. The ending did not make a point to me and was a total 180 from where the whole movie was going, it felt very convenient and in no way ended the movie, There had to be ten minutes more or ten minutes less for it to stamp something.
That is not to say that there aren't many thinks to like. Marion Cotilliard, first and foremost alongside the widely interesting look at humanity, offered by the movie. This isn't your general black and white statement offered-in-the-last-five-minutes type of reflection, under which many dramas fall. This is a profound analysis of what does it mean to be thrust into an impossible situation and how would each of us deal with it if put in the same place. This combined with the premise of the movie is enough to keep the 95 minutes going fluently without ever boring things down, but never during the movie did I feel profound emotional connection with any of the characters. I wanted it to be slightly more nastier and dramatic.