After being released from the hospital following an initially undisclosed illness, Sandra (Cotillard) finds out that she's been ousted from her company job. The only way for her to get reinstated is if the branch collectively decides to relinquish their own bonuses through a vote. Up until the ballots are cast, she spends time trying to individually reconcile with each of her former co-workers in order to sway them. But with the struggling economy, it isn't an easy situation for anyone involved.
It sounds like a thin premise for a feature length, but the Dardenne brothers have proven to make this sort of thing work wonderfully. The picture thrives on quiet realism and organic emotion. Every detail and complicated hurdle is mined to the utmost from all angles. Cotillard gives another award-worthy performance, gaining our sympathy from the beginning (even though her character doesn't want to be pitied). Cotillard might just be the best in the business at slipping into a teary-eyed state. There's a great moment of music as her character is riding in the car and "Needles and Pins" comes on the radio. She cracks a crying smile as she realizes how on-the-nose the moment is.
Two Days, One Night will most likely end up being too mundane for the majority of audiences, and it's not the Dardenne's most potent work, but it isn't really a crimp in their resume either.
7/10
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