Customer Reviews

Le Huitième jour

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I just watched the most wonderful movie, and I must tell youabout it. It's called THE EIGHTH DAY (Ale Huitieme Jour). It's Frenchwith English subtitles. But, don't let that stop you, if you're one of those who dislikes having to read the dialogue. The dialogue is easy to follow, and it's mostly a visual film, and stunning at that. The cinematography is remarkable. But, let me get back to the story, because it's important. There are two men. -- Georges (played superbly by Pascal Duquenne), a man with Down's Syndrome, living in an institution, and missing his mother (she died). He has recurring visions of her, along with visions of his favorite crooner singing his favorite song. He switches gears back and forth from being erratically boisterous and playful at times, to being somber and contemplative at other times. One day, he just walks away from the home, taking along a dog (that may or may not be his pet). Then, there's Harry (played perfectly by Daniel Auteuil). Harry is a salesman. He's very good at his job, but fails in life. He's recently divorced, and has one last chance to see his children, before his ex-wife denies him the right. But,... One night as he's driving in the rain,... He hits a dog, then meets Georges. He takes Georges (and the dog) to the police station. But, they don't help. Unwittingly, he becomes the guardian of Georges, but in the process of trying to take him home, they become friends. Georges teaches Harry about the simpler pleasures in life. And, Harry helps Georges find a home. (His mother is dead, his sister doesn't want him.) Well... I could go on and on, but I don't want to give away the whole story. This is not just another buddy-buddy story, or another road-trip movie. It's more than that. It's about friendship, family, love, life, everything. It's sad. It's funny. It's heart-warming. It's everything that life is. I laughed and cried, sometimes at the same time. It's a truly wonderful movie. Too bad I can only rate it five stars, it deserves ten. END LocalWords: Huitieme Jour

Sometimes we are fortunate enough to view a movie at the perfect time in our lives. Most of us have been in Harry's shoes; overworked, underappreciated, and completely caught up in the rigors of mundane, work-a-day life. Through George, Harry slowly learns to release his inner rage and re-discover love, kindness, and beauty. This movie has several wonderful, memorable scenes of emotion and beauty. When H's estranged wife refuses his attempts to see his daughter on her birthday, H goes berserk and almost harms his wife and mother in law. Defeated, G tries to console the bawling H, who realized his actions further separated him from his family. If this scene didn't make Maltin's throat tighten, perhaps he should find another line of work. Shortly after that scene, H & G lie under a tree in a park, just listening to nature. G asks H for just one more minute before they must go. Another moment of cinematic beauty ensues, as the director allows a full, motionless minute to pass, only the singing birds become louder in the background, and the viewers as well as H begin to understand the true beauty and meaning of life. The theme was also wonderfully captured in the face of his daughter and wife as H puts on a fireworks display on the beach outside the flat on his daughter's birthday. The reflection of the fireworks in the night on the faces of wife and daughter, and hearing H's joyous, child-like laughter below also put a lump in my throat, realizing that H, a kind and gentle man after all, is finally winning back the love of his family. I don't mean to short change the performance of Duquenne, whose performance was nothing short of amazing. His love for his mother was so real and heart-warming, and the movie so bittersweet, that any intelligent viewer is forced to examine his/her own life and relationships. I remember the last time I cried, 1976 at a funeral, but I happened upon this gem one afternoon, and I cried like a child several times during the movie, and also wept the next two times I watched it.

Once in a while a unique film comes along that touches the heart strings. The EIGHTH DAY will make you laugh and make you cry. It has been compared to the French version of RAIN MAN. However, it is not similar at all unless you make extreme comparisons to the physical disparity, Down's Syndrome, that George, one of the main characters, possesses to that of Dustin Hoffman's Autism and his friend,Harry, a father-like figure, to Tom Cruise's character. Other than that, that's where the comparisons end.

EIGHTH DAY brings two completely different people together as they work through their own separate but similar situations. George is not at all absent-minded and is aware of his surroundings, but he holds on to his happy memories of his late mother. In reality, he has to grip with tensions between his older sister and her husband, and the fact that she can no longer take care of him; she has no choice but to confine him to a home. As for Harry, he is fighting to have the right to see his daughters. He too is left out in the cold as his wife refuses him the right. Through some strange occurrence, George running away from the home, and Harry driving along, George and Harry befriend each other despite the numerous trials they face along the way.

EIGHTH DAY is a simple film without flashy scenes. The English subtitles are helpful but not necessary because the character's actions basically speak for themselves. There are high points in the film, the dream-like scenes that George had of his mother, and low points where Harry attempts to abandon George. Overall, this is a recommended film for those want to see an excellent film about friendship.

I showed this to my college students and at the end of it, there was not a single dry eye in the theatre. It taught them (and me) so much and left an indelible mark and gift for everyone. After this film, you'll never look at your life, friendship, the value of honesty or even the mentally-impaired, the same way again. This movie overturns our expectations of what constitutes normality and conformity in society. It speaks of the need for tolerance and sensitivity to others who are different from you and i. It is a beautiful tribute to the human condition, so broken and yet so full of strength and joy in times when you least expect it. I was particularly touched by the brave attempts the director goes about to portray the friendship between 2 grown men. Many directors would fight shy of this. In a society where homophobia has grown to replace the simple need for companionship, this movie makes the heroic effort to elevate this theme to a fresh and honest level. As such, there was no brawl, no beer, no macho-talk; just plain simple honesty about how 2 ordinary human beings could come together in search of their dreams. Indeed a God-inspired film to remember, for many years to come.

Although being fluent in French is almost a prerequisite to watch this movie, it's something that anyone with an interest in intelligent and emotive drama should see. The direction is for the most part light and sure, with the actors given the opportunity to convey pathos, optimism, pain, and regret without the imposition of treacly sound tracks or hackneyed editing. Hollywood will never be capable of making movies like this, and we can only be thankful that the French invest in their movie industry because periodically it turns out gems like le huitieme jour (which means "the eighth day" - a reference to the Judeo-Christian notion that their god made the world in seven days; on the eighth day he accomplished lesser, flawed, work).

Harry is a classic single-minded salesman whose marriage is in tatters; yet he's not heartless - he's simply become caught up in the rat-race. When he forgets to collect his children from the train station, the shock and remorse he feels is powerfully conveyed and we grieve with him that it's too late. As he drives home his guilt leads him to close his eyes and take his hands off the steering wheel. It's a moment of tremendous pain and occurs sotto-voce so we feel it all the more.

Harry, needless to say, doesn't die. Instead he hits something and thus begins his encounter with Georges, a Downs-syndrome man who is on a quest to find his mother. In reality his quest is to find himself and Harry, though initially reluctant to saddle himself with the responsibility, comes to befriend him.

Of course this is a classic "finding yourself" movie in which Harry discovers humanity through witnessing the travails of Georges. But unlike a traditional syrupy Hollywood movie, there's at best an ambiguous ending. Georges does indeed discover himself, and thereby discovers how great and ineluctable a gap exists between his dreams and harsh reality. While Harry and Georges are eating at a diner, with Georges wearing his sunglasses which effectively disguise his condition, the waitress flirts with him. Georges, an open-hearted soul who is also a man with wants and desires, responds happily... only to be crushed when the waitress sees him for what he is and rejects him brusquely.

Georges' end is shown without sentiment, and is all the more affecting because of the crisp direction and well-considered camera angles. And Harry's grief pushes him to make one last effort to regain the hearts of his children.

The acting is first-class, the direction assured, and the overall treatment of the themes is weighty enough to engage the viewer from first to last, without being over-wrought or histrionic. If you only watch one "foreign" movie this year, make this the one to see.

In the tradition of RAINMAN comes this french jewel called THE EIGTH DAY. I admit that at first I thought it was a rip-off of RAINMAN, but when you see the whole movie you know it is not. This is the story of an overworked exec-Harry- who's life is hectic and lonley.He finds George- a likeable kid who has Down Syndrome-and inmediately his life changes.As Harry helps George to find his way home, George teaches him a lesson he'll never forget. The movie touches real life issues like neglect,the search for affection, the loss of loved ones, society's idiocy, friendship,and family relationships. It's well directed from begining to end, the dialogue is great, and the story will leave you feeling good. The movie works because George is presented as a smart, and witty fun loving, full of life person, which contrasts with the executive who befriends him, who is the opposite; dull and drained of life. The director shows how some of us don't value the truly important things that make life what it is, while others seem to live life enjoying every simple moment, without pondering much on what they don't have.You don't need to know french, beacuse scenes "speak" for themselves, and even a child can follow the plot just by watching. Believe me when I say,"you'll cry, you'll laugh... I think that Mr. Matlin should review each movie- like THE EIGTH DAY-in it's own context, like a professional, based on the facts, and not only on his personal opinion. If the Eight day had been done by Steven Spielberg with Mel Gibson as Harry and Leonardo Di Caprio as George, I'm sure Mr Matlin would have had something better to say in his review.

I absolutely love this film! I own the VHS; I just wish they'd release it to DVD. Beautiful cinematography, excellent acting and a simple, wonderous storyline. If your'e in the need of an up-lifting, heart-warming movie, this is your ticket. If you get a chance to see this, don't hesitate. -j

Edit Feb 22,2006:
I'm so excited! I just purchased the DVD; the VHS went to my mother! It's a Region 2 DVD WS but no worries; I own a region free player!

Everyone should see this film. It's really as simple as that. -j

I am 13 and a few months and i saw this in french class now i'm searching the internet for this movie. It is the best movie That has been done. This is a toaching story that everyone should see. I reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeely hope that after other people have seen all the reveiws on this page they will buy this movie

The real happiness of our world thrue the eyes of George ...
The real value of our happiness thrue the eyes of George ...
Who is George ? Just a kid with a Down Sindrome. He sees his happiness in his mom's home , that is why he escapes " the home " to find her . Harry ( Daniel Auteuil ) , just a sailsman , picked him up on the side of the road ... We glad , he did . Same as Harry , we learn how to se the clouds...how to feel the Earth thrue the grass ... how to let go the pain ... how to let it go ...
So many thouts in this film ... it takes so much time to understand them ...
Who is George ? ..." And on the eights day ... HE made George ... so everything will make sence..."

Not only is THE EIGHTH DAY a compelling and touching story, it is also a highly creative film, using fantasy (the stuff of films) and music to their full value. All this combined with humor and, of course, superb acting make it a "not-to-be-missed" experience. I've shared it with my husband and teen-aged children, who fully enjoyed it and it is now a staple of my French class as part of our unit on Friendship.