The Dardenne brothers have mellowed of late. Gone is the presentation of a rotten world in all its unflinching rottenness (L’Enfant and Lorna’s Silence were grim to say the least) and in its place is a nicer, if that’s the word, take on the human condition. 2011’s softy The Kid With The Bike has made way for this spirited and compassionate drama.
It’s a very simple set up. Marion Cotillard’s depressed Sandra has taken time off work to get herself together but in her absence her colleagues have voted for a bonus of one thousand euro over her reinstatement. Sandra convinces her boss for another ballot after the weekend and so has the titular time to change the minds of her co-workers. Growing increasingly desperate as Monday edges closer, she doorsteps those who voted against and presents her case – her family will lose the house if she loses the job – but times are hard and everyone has a sob story...
The simple plot creates spaces where characters can exist. This story is very much Sandra’s but husband Manu (Rongione) is just as important. He’s always bobbing around in the background, watching her, not allowing her to give up, to take another pill and crawl back to bed. He’s like her buoy, refusing to let her believe the worst will happen just because it’s easier.
Rongione might be her cattle prod but this is Cotillard’s film. Playing it down, there’s a subtle change in her as the story progresses: giving up hope, the eyelids droop, the shoulders slump and the voice softens. Eventually, overcome by depression and acceptance of her fate, she looks as if she’s pushing herself to put one foot in front of the other. She hasn’t been better.
The Dardennes seem aware of the danger of their repetitive narrative, but in tossing around the audience around – we move from real hope to despair and back again – the brothers keep things ticking over. The likelihood Sandra will overdose on her medication and the Monday deadline looming is enough to stave off monotony. It helps too that throughout the journey she encounters the full gamut of humanity: those shamed for voting against her, the apologetic ones, the unwavering ones, the down-and-out ones who heroically stand by her despite the obvious need for the cash injection. Some avoid her, hiding behind their children. Some pity her. Some attack her.
The most emotionally engaging Dardenne film for some time.
