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The eighth day

Threat advisory: Elevated - Significant risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

Harry (Daniel Auteuil) is a normal guy. Very normal. He finds Georges (Pascal Duquenne) on the road. "Me mongol," says Georges. Harry wants to return him to his home, but he can't get rid of him. He grows fond of him. These two men with nothing in common become inseparable. Things will never be the same again. Luckily for Harry!

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film France French drama Down Syndrome relationship

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

The eighth day has one of the best opening sequences of this year, unfortunately followed by two hours of film instead of one and a half.

Harry's existence (burnt out, separated, high flying man in a suit) is somewhat clichéd, as is his journey of discovery guided by the holy innocent. The relationship between crusty Harry and spazzy Georges (downs syndrome to the politically correct) develops far too quickly for my liking. I knows it's a fantasy, but even fantasies need to be grounded in reality. Just ask Mr Roarke and Tattoo. Fortunately, Georges can be a real bastard, so the film doesn't sink completely into the treacle.

Georges also leads the most wonderful fantasy + alt.universe life (eats Rainman for breakfast), and it is in these sequences that the film (dare he say it?) shines. All the things that crusty Harry doesn't have - laughter, joy, love - just glow on the screen. Pascal is wonderfully raw in his emotions: it's a relief to see an actor express what he feels.

The happy ending, and it is even though Georges commits suicide, is just a little too Hollywood. Actually, this is the kind of film that screams out for a Hollywood remake (perhaps titled Three men and a spaz).

For the politically correct, this film isn't. The differently-abled person can't eat chocolates, can't have sex, and has to die so that the samely-abled person can be happy. Still, if you aren't a tired old cynic like me, you'll feel good at the end of the film. And take a hanky just in case.

The film is stolen by Laszlo Harmati as the all singing, all crooning, all smiling, super suave, mucho ensequinned, French-singing Mexican.

Security censorship classification

PG (Adult themes)

Not for public release in Australia before date

Film: 26 June 1997