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The Eighth Day

The Eighth Day

What a difference a day makes…

19967.31h 58m

Overview

Georges has Down syndrome, living at a mental-institution, Harry is a busy businessman, giving lectures for young aspiring salesmen. He is successful in his business life, but his social life is a disaster since his wife left him and took their two children with her. This weekend his children came by train to meet him, but Harry, working as always, forgot to pick them up. Neither his wife or his children want to see him again and he is driving around on the country roads, anguished and angry. He almost runs over Georges, on the run from the institution since everybody else went home with their parents except him, whose mother is dead. Harry tries to get rid of Georges but he won't leave his new friend. Eventually a special friendship forms between the two of them, a friendship which makes Harry a different person.

Directed by Jaco Van Dormael
Written by Jaco Van Dormael
Produced by Philippe Godeau
0

Top Cast

Daniel Auteuil

Daniel Auteuil

Harry

Pascal Duquenne

Pascal Duquenne

Georges

Miou-Miou

Miou-Miou

Julie

Henri Garcin

Henri Garcin

Bank manager

Isabelle Sadoyan

Isabelle Sadoyan

Georges' Mother

Fabienne Loriaux

Fabienne Loriaux

Fabienne, Georges's sister

Juliette Van Dormael

Juliette Van Dormael

Juliette

Sabrina Leurquin

Sabrina Leurquin

Snack waitress

Dieudonné Kabongo

Dieudonné Kabongo

Dustman

M

Michele Maes

Nathalie

Themes & Keywords

down syndrome

About The Eighth Day

The Eighth Day is a drama film released in 1996 exploring themes of down syndrome. Directed by Jaco Van Dormael, it stars Daniel Auteuil, Pascal Duquenne, Miou-Miou. Georges has Down syndrome, living at a mental-institution, Harry is a busy businessman, giving lectures for young aspiring salesmen. He is successful in his business life, but his social life is a disaster since his wife left him and took their two children with her. This weekend his children came by train to meet him, but Harry, working as always, forgot to pick them up. Neither his wife or his children want to see him again and he is driving around on the country roads, anguished and angry. He almost runs over Georges, on the run from the institution since everybody else went home with their parents except him, whose mother is dead. Harry tries to get rid of Georges but he won't leave his new friend. Eventually a special friendship forms between the two of them, a friendship which makes Harry a different person.

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