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The Eighth Day (1996)

May 22, 1996 (BE) Drama • 118m

Overview

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.

Director

Jaco Van Dormael

Top Billed

Daniel Auteuil

Keywords

Top Billed Cast

Henri Garcin
Henri Garcin

Bank manager

Isabelle Sadoyan
Isabelle Sadoyan

Georges' Mother

Fabienne Loriaux
Fabienne Loriaux

Fabienne, Georges's sister

Sabrina Leurquin
Sabrina Leurquin

Snack waitress

Marie-Pierre Meinzel
Marie-Pierre Meinzel

Shoe store saleswoman

Laszlo Harmati
Laszlo Harmati

Luis Mariano

Jo De Backer
Jo De Backer

Bridegroom

Monique Florin
Monique Florin

Nathalie's mother

Jean Bollery
Jean Bollery

Nathalie's father

Dominic Gould
Dominic Gould

Harry's colleague

Josse De Pauw
Josse De Pauw

Policeman of police station

Christian Hecq
Christian Hecq

Shoe store manager

Rémy Julienne
Rémy Julienne

Lorry driver

Didier De Neck
Didier De Neck

Fabienne's husband

Pierre Godeau
Pierre Godeau

George's nephew

Marie Godeau
Marie Godeau

Georges' niece

Olivier Gourmet
Olivier Gourmet

Father in restaurant

Hélène Roussel
Hélène Roussel

Julie's mother

Tam Vo
Tam Vo

Japanese pianist

Didier Ferney
Didier Ferney

Showroom salesman

Marc Schreiber
Marc Schreiber

Showroom salesman

Yves Degen
Yves Degen

Showroom manager

Georges Siatidis
Georges Siatidis

Showroom policeman

Freddy Bournane
Freddy Bournane

Dustman (uncredited)

Christopher Granier-Deferre
Christopher Granier-Deferre

English teacher (voice) (uncredited)

Crew


Reviews

deepkino

February 11, 2026

This movie quietly exposes how isolating modern life can be. The contrast between structured, “successful” loneliness and socially excluded loneliness is handled in such a subtle but powerful way. It never lectures you — it just shows you small, human moments that slowly build into something heartbreaking. I found myself thinking about the characters like real people long after the credits rolled. Not an easy watch emotionally, but absolutely wor… read the rest.

Status

Released

Original Language

FR

Budget

Revenue

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