Two Days, One Night (film)

Two Days, One Night

The film opens with the lead character, a working class woman in her early thirties, being released from hospital. On her return to work she discovers that she has lost her job. After pleading wih her boss she discovers that the only way she can keep her position is to hold a ballot and ask her co-workers if they would voluntarily relinquish their bonuses.

Thus begins her angst filled, stressed attempt to get her colleagues to vote for her over the course of one weekend. Sandra’s character obviously has deeper and more far reaching problems than those the film touches on. She has no self-esteem and values her life as less than nothing.  In between her emotional meltdown she lambasts her long-suffering but patient husband, and pops tranquilizer pills as if they were sweets in a vain effort to keep her ever increasingly fraying nerves under a semblance of control.

Her contact and interest with her children is marginal as she delves deeper into herself to fight ot keep her job, urged on by her husband who only hold down a low paying job in a down market restaurant. After a successful phone call to a colleague who confirms he will vote for her she ventures out to get her colleagues to take her side in the forthcoming election on the next Monday.

She ventures out and tries to canvas her colleagues for their support. Barricaded behind solid door replete with deadbolts and safety chains she meets good intentions, but the assertion they her colleagues themselves need the bonus and must look after themselves and their families first. All of which she accepts with near tearful politeness. When we see her entering a block that has a stairwell akin to a prison, and the family she speaks to are obviously in a  far worse and needy position than her, we get a glimpse of her own selfish side.

Nearing the end of her tether she calmy takes an overdose, only to be beckoned downstairs a few second later and to have another colleague state she will vote for her. Rushed to hospital, stomach pumped, she re-enters the fray. On the Monday the vote results in a split decision and her position is finished. She is offered a chance to stay in her job as her boss offers to lay off a young worker who is only on a short term contract. This she refuses and leave the company with her head held high and with the first optimistic spring in her step of the whole film.

The bonus is 1000 Euros, and for that we see the selfishness forced on people as they struggle to survive at the working class end of society. How the need to do the right thing for themselves, pay the bills, do the right thing for Sandra and at the same time, struggle with their own demons in regards to doing the right thing are juggled and balanced. Gritty, down to earth and an interesting incite to society in the early 21^st century.