Very well executed

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

An extraordinary movie that will make you laugh and cry. Full of joy and happiness!

I came across this film by chance on television many years ago. I'm glad I saw it; it's a beautiful Belgian film that has such warmth and tears of humanity in it. The film is based on two men who meet and become friends: Georges, an autistic person who has spent most of his life in an institution, leaves to visit his family and encounters Harry, a successful businessman who has neglected his family. The performances by their actors (Daniel Auteuil and Pascal Duquenne) are wonderfully passionate and complement each other very well, they make such a perfect couple that both actors shared a Cannes award for their acting. The film parallels the French literary classic "The Little Prince", where two different characters travel and bond together. One is steeped in the harshness of reality and learns to appreciate kindness and the wonders of life; the other is a childlike figure who follows fantasy and learns about maturity and sacrifice of adulthood. In both tales the two must part ways in a bittersweet ending (alas), as one is far too unreal to last long in the world, but at least his presence has changed the other's life for the better. The two actors are so good that one nearly overlooks the director who gave them a great setup. The direction and story, both done by Jaco Van Dormael, provide a wonderful yet reasonable setting that blends magic and reality in a masterful and subtle manner.I only saw this film once, but it has stayed with me throughout the years. It's one of those special films that everyone should watch.

With 'Le Huitième Jour' director Jaco van Dormael tells us a moving tale of two complete strangers (who couldn't be more different from each other), whose paths cross as they travel opposite directions. After this odd encounter, together, both take turns heading towards each other's destinations but with heartbreaking results. However, this journey allows them to find something they didn't know they were looking for.Let's get the flaws out of the way: Certain scenes may feel a little dramatic but it still remains within the tone of the film, never looking out of place. Even though Harry and Georges are the primary focus of the film, some of the important supporting characters are poorly developed, especially Georges's hating sister and Miou Miou's Julie.But those minuses aside, is 'Le Huitième Jour' a road movie (the landscapes are dazzling)? Is it a study of two characters? Is it a 'buddy' movie (certainly not the typical Hollywood kind)? Is it a dramedy?It's poetry. The film, in a way, moves from one genre to another but it flows beautifully. The balance in humour, and intensity is first rate. The jokes work well and the timing is just right. I did find the ending to be a tad too dramatic.What Georges shows the viewer is that, while people desire similarities, it is our differences that make us unique. Yet, that is the very reason why Georges is rejected by the 'real world'. What Harry further shows is that none of these supposed similarities that people look for in each other matters because acceptance, respect, being open to possibilities and being true to oneself are what will bring the greater joy.'Le Huitième Jour' is stunningly filmed and wonderfully acted. Pascal Duquenne and Daniel Auteuil are superb. Duquenne delivers a very natural performance and Auteuil is terrifically restrained. They are well supported by Isabelle Sadoyan, Michele Maes and the two actors who play Harry's daughter.'Le Huitième Jour' engages you right from the start. It's funny, intense, enlightening and reaches straight for the heart.

The eighth day, what was it like? Simple, sweet and slightly moralistic, as it turns out. That was when God made George, and endowed him with an extra chromosome, be it by chance or divine experiment. But when God looked at George, he saw it was for the good. And so will you.The plot is simple. Harry (Daniel Auteuil), a stressed-out salesman instructor, is losing grip on the disintegrating fabric of his personal and professional life, when he accidentally meets George (Pascal Duquenne), a stray escapee from a mental institution. George suffers from the Down syndrome, but is adorably adept at enjoying the simple things in life. The only thing he misses is his family. And on the day George eventually goes out to try to find it, he is almost run over by the recklessly driving Harry. Against the odds, the two become friends and set out on a journey to find the missing links of their lives.Not very original, you might say. True enough, comparisons to `Rainman' and `Falling Down' keep coming to mind throughout the movie, with Daniel Auteuil sometimes looking so much like Michael Douglas. But despite these `borrowings' and pervasive overtones of political correctness, the authors of the movie manage to deliver many moments of genuine humor and sweetness in the film. The acting is commendable too, honored by two acting awards of the Cannes Festival in 1996.Eventually, the film prevails over its imperfections, much like George is left unhindered by his own handicap. After all, don't we all sometimes just yield to the magic of the simple things in life? Even if it is only in defiance of life's other, tragic circumstances.