THE EIGHTH DAY

Jaco Van Dormael's triumphant first feature, “Toto the Hero” was a highlight of the 16th CIFF, and went on to become a worldwide sensation. The question has been, what would the whimsical, fantastical, yet profoundly heartwrenching Van Dormael do for an encore? How about a singing mouse, the invasion of Paradise, and a holy fool? Or, in one word: Georges. A retarded adult who walks away from an institution, the innocent, imaginative, impulsive Georges crosses paths with Harry, a high-powered Brussels bank executive caught in a crisis of conscience over how careerism has cost him his wife and family. Harry intends to return Georges to the group home, but being caretaker, foil, and, finally, friend to the self-described 'Mongol' opens the businessman's eyes to simple human contact and the marvels of the everyday. At the 1996 Cannes Film Festival, Daniel Auteuil shared a Best Actor award with Pascal Duquenne, whose real-life Down's Syndrome does not prevent him from giving a nuanced performance (and a PULP FICTION takeoff) you will never forget. In French with English subtitles.) – Charles Cassady