The Eighth Day (1996)

An unusual and wonderful friendship develops between a busy but unhappy salesman and a resident of a mental asylum.

Director:

Jaco Van Dormael

Writer:

Jaco Van Dormael

Stars:

Daniel Auteuil, Pascal Duquenne, Miou-Miou

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Daniel Auteuil	...	Harry
Pascal Duquenne	...	Georges
Miou-Miou	...	Julie
Henri Garcin	...	Le directeur de la banque
Isabelle Sadoyan	...	la mère de Georges
Michele Maes	...	Nathalie (as Michèle Maes)
Fabienne Loriaux	...	la soeur de Georges - Fabienne
Alice van Dormael	...	Alice
Juliette Van Dormael	...	Juliette
Marie-Pierre Meinzel	...	La vendeuse du magasin du chaussures
Sabrina Leurquin	...	La serveuse du snack
Laszlo Harmati	...	Luis Mariano
Alain Bougnet
Magali Cote
Jean Désert

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:

friendship | suicide | train station | children | weekend | 

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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 USA:

$328,452

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?

Trivia

Both Pascal Duquenne and Daniel Auteuil tied for the Best Actor Award at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival for their roles in this film. This was the first time such an event had happened.

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Quotes

Harry: [fed up with Georges] Get out! Go find some other sucker to help you out!
[leaves Georges in the rain. He eventually comes back]
Harry: Put this on, you'll get soaked and chill.
[puts his coat on Georges]
Georges: [overjoyed] You like me!

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Devil's Own/Cats Don't Dance/B*A*P*S/The Sixth Man/The Eighth Day/The Substance of Fire (1997)

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Soundtracks

L'Amour est un bouquet de violettes
Music by Francis Lopez
Lyrics by Mireille Brocey
Performed by Luis Mariano

User Reviews

Two very different persons with two very different lives meet on their two very different ways

This film is close to be my favorite piece of celluloid. There is really not much I'd need or want to say here. Except maybe "See this film" and "Enjoy the excellent work by Daniel and Pascal", who carries you through this neat, funny and heartbreaking story about 'spending your eighth day' - your own day!

Seeing this film made me think seriously about how I spend my eighth day = my life! It appears, that some of us are wasting precious time doing things we think we need to do. Either if it's pleasing a career or just consuming TV-shows and ballgames. What we tend to miss is the satisfaction of being something for another person - make a difference. About taking room and time to be spontaneous and live - NOW! (on the eighth day)... At least that was what I got from 'The Eighth Day'.