Long synopsis : Sales executive Harry is a classic victim of the corporate rat race. Alienated and repressed, full of unacknowledged anger, haunted by the futility of his life. His wife and children have left him. Harry is one of the living dead. One evening, driving in the rain, he closes his eyes, takes his hands off the wheel, and hits a dog, killing it. That’s how he meets Georges... Georges has Downs Syndrome. On the run from the institution that has been his home since the death of his beloved mother, he dwells in a world where fantasy and reality are interchangeable. George embraces life head on, reacting spontaneously to whatever he encounters with a boundless capacity for delight. No restraints, no barriers. Together they bury the dog. And now Harry is stuck with Georges. At first wanting nothing more than to be rid of this irrepressible and unpredictable companion, Harry slowly finds himself drawn into Georges’ pure and innocent way of experiencing the world. To his surprise, and then delight, a strange and magical friendship begins develop, and for Harry, the possibility of a new freedom opens up in front of him. Jaco Van Dormael (TOTO THE HERO) brings a magical visual sense and endlessly rich imagination to play in this moving and exhilarating fable of friendship, redemption and hope, drawing astonishing performances from both Auteuil and Duquenne, who shared the Best Actor Award at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival.

Cast

• Daniel Auteuil, Pascal Duquenne, Miou-Miou, Henri Garcin, Isabelle Sadoyan, Michele Maes

Crew

• Director(s): Jaco Van Dormael

• Original Title: LE HUITIEME JOUR
• Genre(s): Drama


• Production company: PAN EUROPEENNE PRODUCTION
• Production date: 1995
• Language: French
• Duration: 118 min