Thursday’s soft blanket of snow (hopefully the last this year, please?) put a bit of a damper on MovieNight attendance this week. Still, not a bad turn-out under the circumstances, and those who that ventured forth were rewarded with another treat from the Dardennes. Two Days, One Night is a frank, non-judgemental observation of society in this age ruled by the dollar, or in this case, the euro.

The protagonists in the brothers’ films have traditionally been played by unknowns, so the casting of Marion Coutilliard in the lead role came as something of a surprise. A pleasant surprise: her portrayal of a woman oscillating between emotional fragility and remarkable resilience was mesmerizing. Mdme. Biya (Coutilliard) was almost constantly in motion, almost always in a sporty tank top, almost always with her broad shoulders bound by clear plastic bra straps… a nice touch. Also new for Les freres… a feel-good ending. We like.

More about this film on IMDb