The Eighth Day - Le huitième jour (original title)

Director: Jaco Van Dormael
Year: 1996
Country: Belgium/France/UK
Duration: 118 mins
Rating: PG
Cast: Daniel Auteuil, Pascal Duquenne and Miou-Miou
More information (external website)

Filed under: Human Genetics, Drama

Georges has Down syndrome, living at a mental-institution. Harry is a high flying busy businessman, giving lectures for young aspiring salesmen. Though successful in his business life, his social life is a disaster since his wife left him with their two children. 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 his institution since everybody else went home with their parents except him. Harry tries to get rid of Georges but he will not leave his new friend. Eventually a special friendship forms between the two of them, a friendship in which they can both learn. The film won the Best Actor award at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival which was given to both Pascal Duquenne and Daniel Auteuil.

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