Though it was left out of the Oscar shortlist for Best Foreign Language Film, the Dardenne Brothers’ Two Days, One Night is one of 2014’s most highly acclaimed international films. We named it the second best film of the year, calling it the “the most nakedly emotional film Jean-Pierre and Luc have made yet,” and Marion Cotillard’s bravura lead performance has ranked highly on a number of critics groups’ lists. The film, which debuted way back in May at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, is finally making its way Stateside. Two Days, One Night comes to Chicago theaters on January 16, but The A.V. Club has an opportunity for you to win a free pair of passes to an early screening on January 13. For your chance to win, simply follow the link here and enter your information. As always, these advanced screenings are first come, first serve, so be sure to arrive early. An official synopsis and trailer for the film can be found below.
“For the first time, the Dardenne Brothers have teamed with a major international star, Marion Cotillard, and the result is another masterwork of humanism. Sandra (Cotillard) has just returned to work after recovering from an illness. Realizing that the company can operate with one less employee, management tells Sandra she is to be let go while the remaining employees will each receive a bonus. Over the course of a weekend, Sandra, often with the help of her loving husband (Fabio Rongione), races against time to convince each of her fellow co-workers to sacrifice their much-needed bonuses in order for her to keep her job. With each encounter, Sandra is brought into a different world with unexpected results while her fate hangs in the balance. The Dardennes have brought an extremely relevant social inquiry and turned it into a powerful statement on community solidarity.”