Film Review 'Two Days, One Night'

Previous Oscar winner and this year's nominee Marion Cotillard deserves raves for baring her soul in "Two Days, One Night." Her portrayal of a desperate woman affected by the plight and blight of the middle class is as raw as an open wound.

Cotillard's character, Sandra, is a wife and mother who has suddenly lost her much needed job in a curious manner. Co-workers have been offered a bonus of 1,000 euros in exchange for voting to dismiss her. On Friday she convinces the manager to conduct a second vote the following Monday. Over the course of two days and one night, Sandra must muster the courage to approach her colleagues in person and persuade them to vote in her favor.

Sandra needs to encourage seven employees to alter their previous decision and forgo their bonuses. On her painful campaign she's met with pity, fear, compassion and even physical violence. She comments to her devoted husband, Manu (Fabrizio Rongione), that she feels like a "beggar and a thief." Her emotionally frail state is exacerbated by having recently overcome a mental breakdown. She's popping Xanax like gumdrops.

Belgian director brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne revisit the injustices of the workplace ("Rosetta," "The Promise") by means of employing an in-depth character study. Sandra abhors having to fight to keep her job and yet there is no alternative. Initially, she just wants to crawl into bed, but with the encouragement of friends and family, eventually, she takes charge. It's a painful and enlightening journey riddled with dire setbacks. The Dardennes are compassionate in their approach to the subject matter, and it pays off.

Cotillard, who won the Oscar for portraying Edith Piaf in "La Vie en Rose" (2008), looks quite different in "Two Days, One Night." Sans makeup and smiles, she totally transforms herself. Her character evolves from meek to powerful in a matter of days, and it's utterly fascinating to witness. It is an understated performance and her best thus far.

"Two Days, One Night" is a film about the process of change. It's also about how difficult it is for the middle class to flourish as of late on a global level. Most importantly, it insinuates itself into the audience's psyche. Simply put, it's Sandra or bonus. What would you do?