The Eighth Day

1997 "What a difference a day makes…"
7.5| 1h58m| NR| en
Details

Georges has Down 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 or 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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Also starring Pascal Duquenne

Reviews

Clevercell Very disappointing...
BoardChiri Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay
ShangLuda Admirable film.
Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.
andrew-811-639783 I watches this movie not expecting much. Actually I thought that it would be depressing, maybe boring, maybe both. But from the first minute it's really good and keeps it up throughout. You feel a real empathy with the characters, the acting is excellent, the story is excellent as well. I think it is more of an experience than a movie, it really feels like you have lived something unique and became a little bit more human and aware of the beauty and fragility of life by the end. As a criticism, there were a few moments when it seemed overly optimistic to the point of being a little bit unrealistic, but this did not ruin the film for me. I think it's one of the most positive movies I have ever seen, very funny and deep at the same time. I don't remember what part I started crying on, but I was laughing so hard that I ended up crying, and then I cried because it was sad... A genuine emotional reaction. i think this is my new favorite movie and i will recommend it to everyone.
didiermustntdie a great film, one of the funniest films ever. the only thing that disturbed me is the music sounds like flashdance...what a feeling.. also it would be more believable if the character Daniel Auteuil plays were a loser businessman,that would be less effective but more believable. but anything else is valid, credible and even realist.. the scene with Georges's sister is touching , the scene with the maid is moving and bitter,the shoe shop scene ,the opening sequence and some others are hilarious. but the car shop one is gone too far..oh well, another issue on the subplot,he is neither unfaithful nor abusive. I don't know what's the problem between harry and his wife. I think I would stand by harry's side like I did in "war of roses".it's my first film about Down syndrome people, those forgotten souls(people now only care about and spend too much time and energy on blacks who are actually the real oppressors today)...
Ken Ley 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'.
marco grandia I really love this movie, saw it again last week after 3 years or so. This movie is perfect, great acting, great story, great directing/camera-work/music. It is a gift to show it to someone you love. too bad jaco van dormael did not make more movies after this one. Top 5 work. Really!!Today, it's 3 years and 3 days later then the comment above. it was never posted because it was not more than 10 lines. Anyway, i saw "le huitieme jour" again yesterday. This is with no doubt in my movie top 3. together with "Cinema Paradiso" which is also a masterpiece. The soundtrack is also really good. I am really curious about "jaco von dormael's" new movie. I hope it will complete my movie top 3. If you see this movie, rent it. Or even better. buy it. Because you will want to see it again.