The Eighth Day (1996)
"Le huitième jour" (original title)

Georges has Down's syndrome, living at a mental-institution. Harry is a busy businessman, giving lectures for young aspiring salesmen. He is successful in his business life, but his social ... See full summary »

Director:

Jaco Van Dormael

Writer:

Jaco Van Dormael

Stars:

Daniel Auteuil, Pascal Duquenne, Miou-Miou

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Daniel Auteuil	...	Harry
Pascal Duquenne	...	Georges
Miou-Miou	...	Julie
Henri Garcin	...	Le directeur de la banque
Isabelle Sadoyan	...	Georges' Mother
Michele Maes	...	Nathalie
Fabienne Loriaux	...	Fabienne
Hélène Roussel	...	Julie's mother
Alice van Dormael	...	Alice
Juliette Van Dormael	...	Juliette
Didier De Neck	...	Fabienne's husband
Marie-Pierre Meinzel
Sabrina Leurquin	...	Serveuse du snack
Laszlo Harmati	...	Luis Mariano
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jean Bollery

Storyline

Georges has Down's syndrome, living at a mental-institution. Harry is a busy businessman, giving lectures for young aspiring salesmen. He is successful in his business life, but his social life is a disaster since his wife left him and took their two children with her. This weekend his children came by train to meet him, but Harry, working as always, forgot to pick them up. Neither his wife nor his children want to see him again and he is driving around on the country roads, anguished and angry. He almost runs over Georges, on the run from the institution since everybody else went home with their parents except him, whose mother is dead. Harry tries to get rid of Georges but he won't leave his new friend. Eventually a special friendship forms between the two of them, a friendship which makes Harry a different person.

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Plot Keywords:

children | friendship | businessman | friend | mental institution | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Belgium France UK

Language:

French

Release Date:

7 March 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Eighth Day

Filming Locations:

Brussels, Brussels-Capital, Belgium

Box Office

Budget:

FRF 25,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$328,452 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+, Center for Film and Audiovisual Arts of the French Community of Belgium, Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Pumpkin (2002)

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Soundtracks

"Qui sait, Qui sait, qui Sait (Quizás, Quizás, Quizáz)"
Music by Osvaldo Farrés
Lyrics by Jacques Larue (French version)
Performed by Luis Mariano

User Reviews

Straight into my heart.

The number of times I've had tears in my eyes when watching a movie are few. And there is only one time when I have really cried and that was when I saw this movie. This movie has some kliches but I really don't care. I cry even as I write this and it was quite some time since I saw it. It is perfectly acted and all the production values are good, but what really matters is the simple and wonderful message. We all know it in our hearts, but it is not always easy to remember that the only thing that really matters in life is LOVE in all it's forms. It's only when we love that we're truly alive. I know how sentimental I sound and I promise I'm not usually like that. I'm quite a cynic. This movie has brought out stronger feelings of both sorrow and happiness in me than any other movies and it will probably always be the first movie I recommend others to see.