The Eighth Day
Film

The Eighth Day

1996 · 118 min · ★ 7.4 · Dir. Jaco Van Dormael

What a difference a day makes…

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.

Trailer

Starring

Miou-Miou
Miou-Miou
Julie
Henri Garcin
Henri Garcin
Bank manager
Daniel Auteuil
Daniel Auteuil
Harry
Pascal Duquenne
Pascal Duquenne
Georges
Fabienne Loriaux
Fabienne Loriaux
Fabienne, Georges's sister
Michele Maes
Nathalie
Sabrina Leurquin
Sabrina Leurquin
Snack waitress
Isabelle Sadoyan
Isabelle Sadoyan
Georges' Mother
Dieudonné Kabongo
Dieudonné Kabongo
Dustman
Alice van Dormael
Alice
Juliette Van Dormael
Juliette
Marie-Pierre Meinzel
Shoe store saleswoman
Dominique Lecat
Band Member
Laszlo Harmati
Luis Mariano
Roland De Pauw
TV Chef
Jo De Backer
Bridegroom
Lotfi Yahya Jedidi
Lotfi Yahya Jedidi
Dustman
André Simon
Tramp