The Eighth Day

The Eighth Day (1996) is a drama film directed by Jaco Van Dormael rated 7.4/10.

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.

Cast

Daniel Auteuil

Harry

Pascal Duquenne

Georges

Miou-Miou

Julie

Henri Garcin

Bank manager

Isabelle Sadoyan

Georges' Mother

Fabienne Loriaux

Fabienne, Georges's sister

Juliette Van Dormael

Juliette

Sabrina Leurquin

Snack waitress

Dieudonné Kabongo

Dustman

Michele Maes

Nathalie

Alice van Dormael

Alice

Marie-Pierre Meinzel

Shoe store saleswoman