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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Taglines:

What a difference a day makes ...

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Pascal Duquenne has Down syndrome, like his character Georges.

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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 The Movie Show: Episode dated 22 June 1997 (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

A touching film for good natured souls

This film is about the unlikely friendship between a businessman and a man with Down Syndrome.

The character development in this film is excellent. We get to believe that Harry is a businessman who neglects his family, and Georges is an innocent man who craves loving and care from the "normal" society. Acting is excellent, and the Cannes best actor award is well deserved.

The fantasy scenes in the film highlights the fact that Georges misery towards his abandonment by his family, and his desire to be treated like a normal person. The song that gets played repeatedly also reinforces this message. The film shows that people who are mentally handicapped are good natured. We have been treating them with discrimination and neglect, a fact that is highlighted by the scene where Georges gives a present to the waitress in the kitchen). If we get to understand and share these people's world, both we and the mentally handicapped can become very happy.

I was so drawn into the film and the characters' emotional experiences. It is a touching film for good natured souls.

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:

FRF25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,397, 9 March 1997

Gross USA:

$416,401

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$33,031,984

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+, Center for Film and Audiovisual Arts of the French Community of Belgium, Centre National du Cinéma et de l'Image Animée

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1