Le Huitième Jour
Encyclopedia
Le huitième jour is a Belgian 1996
film
that tells the story of the friendship that develops between two men who meet by chance. Harry (Daniel Auteuil
), a divorced businessman who feels alienated from his children, meets Georges (Pascal Duquenne
), an institutionalised man with Down's syndrome
, after Georges has escaped from his mental institution and is nearly run over by Harry.
The film was written and directed by Jaco Van Dormael
. Some scenes in the film appear as dream sequences, often employing magical realism. The music of Luis Mariano
("Mexico," and "Maman, Tu Es La Plus Belle Du Monde") is used in these scenes, with actor Laszlo Harmati playing Mariano, who died in 1970. The original music score is from Pierre Van Dormael
, Jaco's brother.
award, the top prize at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival
. It did win the Best Actor
award at the festival, which was given to both Pascal Duquenne
and Daniel Auteuil
. This was the first time in the festival's history that two actors had shared the award.
The film was also nominated for a César Award
and a Golden Globe award.
1996 in film
Major releases this year included Scream, Independence Day, Fargo, Trainspotting, The English Patient, Twister, Mars Attacks!, Jerry Maguire and a version of Evita starring Madonna.-Events:...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
that tells the story of the friendship that develops between two men who meet by chance. Harry (Daniel Auteuil
Daniel Auteuil
Daniel Auteuil is a French film, television and theatre actor.-Early life and education:He was born in Algiers, French Algeria.-Career:...
), a divorced businessman who feels alienated from his children, meets Georges (Pascal Duquenne
Pascal Duquenne
Pascal Duquenne is a Belgian actor. He shared the prize for a male role in 1996 Cannes Film Festival for his performance as Georges in the movie The Eighth Day, with Daniel Auteuil, who played Harry. He currently lives in Brussels...
), an institutionalised man with Down's syndrome
Down syndrome
Down syndrome, or Down's syndrome, trisomy 21, is a chromosomal condition caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. It is named after John Langdon Down, the British physician who described the syndrome in 1866. The condition was clinically described earlier in the 19th...
, after Georges has escaped from his mental institution and is nearly run over by Harry.
The film was written and directed by Jaco Van Dormael
Jaco Van Dormael
Jaco Van Dormael is a Belgian film director, screenwriter and playwright. His complex and critically acclaimed films are especially noted for their respectful and sympathetic portrayal of people with mental and physical disabilities.- Biography :In the 1980s, he became interested in filmmaking and...
. Some scenes in the film appear as dream sequences, often employing magical realism. The music of Luis Mariano
Luis Mariano
Mariano Eusebio González y García aka Luis Mariano was a popular tenor of Spanish Basque origin who achieved celebrity in 1946 with « La belle de Cadix » an operetta by Francis Lopez...
("Mexico," and "Maman, Tu Es La Plus Belle Du Monde") is used in these scenes, with actor Laszlo Harmati playing Mariano, who died in 1970. The original music score is from Pierre Van Dormael
Pierre Van Dormael
Pierre Van Dormael , born in Brussels, Uccle, was a Belgian musician and composer.In 1988, he played with the James Baldwin Project with a.o. David Linx and Deborah Brown , Slide Hampton , Diederik Wissels , Bob Stewart and Michel Hatzigeorgiou...
, Jaco's brother.
Cast
- Daniel AuteuilDaniel AuteuilDaniel Auteuil is a French film, television and theatre actor.-Early life and education:He was born in Algiers, French Algeria.-Career:...
- Harry - Pascal DuquennePascal DuquennePascal Duquenne is a Belgian actor. He shared the prize for a male role in 1996 Cannes Film Festival for his performance as Georges in the movie The Eighth Day, with Daniel Auteuil, who played Harry. He currently lives in Brussels...
- Georges - Miou-MiouMiou-MiouMiou-Miou is a French actress. In her career she has worked with a number of international directors, including Michel Gondry, Bertrand Blier, Yves Boisset, Claude Berri, Jacques Deray, Michel Deville, Diane Kurys, Radu Mihăileanu, Patrice Leconte, Joseph Losey and Louis Malle.-Career:She was born...
- Julie - Henri Garcin - The director of the bank
- Isabelle SadoyanIsabelle SadoyanIsabelle Sadoyan is a French actress. She was the wife of actor Jean Bouise. Her filmography includes films by Jeanne Moreau, Claude Chabrol, Claude Lelouch, Luc Besson, Jean-Luc Godard, Henri Verneuil, Bertrand Tavernier, Robert Kechichian and Krzysztof Kieślowski.-Filmography:* 1969 : Les...
- Georges' Mother - Michele Maes - Nathalie
- Fabienne Loriaux - Fabienne
- Hélène Roussel - Julie's mother
- Alice van Dormael - Alice
- Juliette Van Dormael - Juliette
- Didier De Neck - Fabienne's husband
- Marie-Pierre Meinzel
- Sabrina Leurquin - Waitress in fast food restaurant
- Laszlo Harmati - Luis MarianoLuis MarianoMariano Eusebio González y García aka Luis Mariano was a popular tenor of Spanish Basque origin who achieved celebrity in 1946 with « La belle de Cadix » an operetta by Francis Lopez...
Awards
This film was nominated for the Palme d'OrPalme d'Or
The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
award, the top prize at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival
1996 Cannes Film Festival
-Jury:*Francis Ford Coppola *Nathalie Baye *Greta Scacchi, actrice *Michael Ballhaus *Henry Chapier *Atom Egoyan *Eiko Ishioka *Krzysztof Piesiewicz *Antonio Tabucchi...
. It did win the Best Actor
Best Actor Award (Cannes Film Festival)
The Best Actor Award is an award presented at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the jury from the 'official section' of movies at the festival. It was first awarded in 1946.- Award Winners :-External links:* * ....
award at the festival, which was given to both Pascal Duquenne
Pascal Duquenne
Pascal Duquenne is a Belgian actor. He shared the prize for a male role in 1996 Cannes Film Festival for his performance as Georges in the movie The Eighth Day, with Daniel Auteuil, who played Harry. He currently lives in Brussels...
and Daniel Auteuil
Daniel Auteuil
Daniel Auteuil is a French film, television and theatre actor.-Early life and education:He was born in Algiers, French Algeria.-Career:...
. This was the first time in the festival's history that two actors had shared the award.
The film was also nominated for a César Award
César Award
The César Award is the national film award of France, first given out in 1975. The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma....
and a Golden Globe award.