Opening 30 Oct 2014
Directed by:
Jean-Pierre Dardenne
Writing credits:
Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Principal actors:
Marion Cotillard, Fabrizio Rongione, Pili Groyne, Simon Caudry, Catherine Salée
Sandra (Marion Cotillard) has been on sick leave from her factory work because of depression. When her leave is over, she discovers that she has been made redundant. The boss has offered her co-workers each a large bonus to distribute her work among them. Over the course of one weekend (hence the title), Sandra approaches her colleagues one by one to try to convince them to give up their bonus in order for her to regain her job. Her wonderfully supportive husband (Fabrizio Rongione) drives her from home to home.
The film is sometimes agonizingly slow and the Belgian landscape bleak, but Marion Cotillard carries the film with her emotions and sensitivity and one never loses interest in her progress. (Thelma Freedman)