TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT *****
We fight for what we believe is right, for the chance to succeed and for survival. The journey is always a path moving towards self improvement as humans, as parents, as workers. The year is over and the best film of 2014 arrives just in time for the season of analyzing who we really are, and the reason of being here. And how about that for a Christmas gift? The Dardenne Brothers invite the audience to make a self-evaluation raising a simple and decisive question: how are we communicating, connecting and demonstrating care for each other? Are we here to help each other become better, or are we heartless and selfish people just running over everything to reach our interests? What’s more valuable, making ends meet with a reasonable working salary or getting a bonus as a reward in case you support the decision of letting go a worker who could suffer consequences without the paycheck? A film by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne is enough said to describe this as a masterpiece, that will quietly shatter various emotions as it progresses carefully observing the struggle of a woman for her rights. The filmmakers cast the moral situation, revealing the reasons of each character involved, giving the audience the hard task to investigate and to judge, creating a test of human values over our consciousness, and defying our concepts of “love your neighbor as yourself”. She wakes up differently one morning, feeling completely recovered from her breakdown, feeling she’s ready to get back in the game. As she manages the house and the kids, a phone call turns into an obstacle blocking her bright enthusiasm, as she learns her boss and co-workers are voting to kick her out of the job. Desperate, she runs out of strength but she looks to herself, and motivated by her husband and the children’s smile, she refuses to surrender and decides fighting it over. It won’t be an easy journey through the weekend, as she decides knocking on everybody’s door, begging for help to keep her job. She needs to keep herself alive and useful, she needs the money to help with the bills and she needs to provide a decent life for her growing kids. She knows she has to walk side by side with humility and perseverance, and must hide herself behind the faith that moves her to guarantee survival. The camera follows Marion Cotillard through this battle, capturing her desperation, fragility, hopelessness and determination with a fascinating narrative technique: just with the simple fact of observing her riding on the bus, walking through different neighborhoods, the burden on her eyes, the voice suffocated by insecurity, and the devastating expression of the unknown circumstances awaiting for her in each door; Cotillard embodies one of the most memorable female figures in modern cinema and should be crowned this year’s best actress for this powerful and profound role. The Dardenne Brothers confirm themselves as masters and specialists of the human nature, investigating our broken relationships and trying to resurrect values lost on the way of a materialistic and consumerist generation. With the presence of a spirituality that will keep working on benefit of those who persevere with hope and faith, the film explores important social issues, insecurity, hope and compassion, maintaining its integrity for a good fight.
Comments