The Eighth Day (1997)

I came across this film by chance on television many years ago. I'm glad I saw it; it's a beautiful Belgian film that has such warmth and tears of humanity in it. The film is based on two men who meet and become friends: Georges, an autistic person who has spent most of his life in an institution, leaves to visit his family and encounters Harry, a successful businessman who has neglected his family. The performances by their actors (Daniel Auteuil and Pascal Duquenne) are wonderfully passionate and complement each other very well, they make such a perfect couple that both actors shared a Cannes award for their acting. The film parallels the French literary classic "The Little Prince", where two different characters travel and bond together. One is steeped in the harshness of reality and learns to appreciate kindness and the wonders of life; the other is a childlike figure who follows fantasy and learns about maturity and sacrifice of adulthood. In both tales the two must part ways in a bittersweet ending (alas), as one is far too unreal to last long in the world, but at least his presence has changed the other's life for the better. The two actors are so good that one nearly overlooks the director who gave them a great setup. The direction and story, both done by Jaco Van Dormael, provide a wonderful yet reasonable setting that blends magic and reality in a masterful and subtle manner.I only saw this film once, but it has stayed with me throughout the years. It's one of those special films that everyone should watch.

**May contain spoilers** I finally own "Le huitième jour".First time I saw it was as a rental, while living in the US. This movie is a true Film, it is a fairytale, where reality and fantasy is interwoven in a true use of style, acting, vision and direction.Watched it yesterday, having found that it was now available on DVD, and buying it in the US of all places.Harry and George start out as the odd couple, but as the Film progress they become two sides of humans and humanity, George is prefacing the end through his words and actions through the Film, and only at the end all of them becomes apparent.This story is one which I think all should on occasion try to see, it is movie making at it's best. The dream sequences would not translate into words as strongly as the visual impact, the fact that no words are spoken through some of them, and the 'force' with which our emotions and thoughts react to them.It is not supposed to be 'believable' it is supposed to tell a story, and it does that to the best possible extent imaginable. And indeed on the Eight day "all is good".This is one of my favorite movies all time.

This was a great movie. We had to watch it in our AP French class. It makes you appreciate the little things in life and remind you to enjoy life. It also makes you appreciate friendship. Harry and George were what each other needed. Harry needed George to remind him that work isn't all that there is. George needed Harry to take care of him. This movie is a must see.

The eighth day, what was it like? Simple, sweet and slightly moralistic, as it turns out. That was when God made George, and endowed him with an extra chromosome, be it by chance or divine experiment. But when God looked at George, he saw it was for the good. And so will you.The plot is simple. Harry (Daniel Auteuil), a stressed-out salesman instructor, is losing grip on the disintegrating fabric of his personal and professional life, when he accidentally meets George (Pascal Duquenne), a stray escapee from a mental institution. George suffers from the Down syndrome, but is adorably adept at enjoying the simple things in life. The only thing he misses is his family. And on the day George eventually goes out to try to find it, he is almost run over by the recklessly driving Harry. Against the odds, the two become friends and set out on a journey to find the missing links of their lives.Not very original, you might say. True enough, comparisons to `Rainman' and `Falling Down' keep coming to mind throughout the movie, with Daniel Auteuil sometimes looking so much like Michael Douglas. But despite these `borrowings' and pervasive overtones of political correctness, the authors of the movie manage to deliver many moments of genuine humor and sweetness in the film. The acting is commendable too, honored by two acting awards of the Cannes Festival in 1996.Eventually, the film prevails over its imperfections, much like George is left unhindered by his own handicap. After all, don't we all sometimes just yield to the magic of the simple things in life? Even if it is only in defiance of life's other, tragic circumstances.