The Eighth Day

"What a difference a day makes…"

1996 1h 58m FR

👍

7.3

SOLID

★7.3TMDB · 323

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

An unusual and wonderful friendship develops between a busy but unhappy salesman and a resident of a mental asylum.

“What a difference a day makes…”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Daniel Auteuil
Harry
Pascal Duquenne
Georges
Miou-Miou
Julie
Henri Garcin
Bank manager
Isabelle Sadoyan
Georges' Mother
Fabienne Loriaux
Fabienne, Georges's sister
Juliette Van Dormael
Juliette
Sabrina Leurquin
Snack waitress

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jaco Van Dormael
Writers: Jaco Van Dormael
Languages: French
Countries: Belgium, France, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

30 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Belgium, France, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jaco Van Dormael, shot by Walther van den Ende. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Pierre van Dormael. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Susana Rossberg shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Daniel Auteuil and Pascal Duquenne and Miou-Miou carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "What a difference a day makes…".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0116581 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jaco Van Dormael directs. Walther van den Ende behind the camera. Pierre van Dormael scores. Susana Rossberg cuts. Produced in Belgium, France, United Kingdom. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

130 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2International production across 3 countries: Belgium, France, United Kingdom.
3Directed by Jaco Van Dormael, shot by Walther van den Ende. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Pierre van Dormael. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Susana Rossberg shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Daniel Auteuil and Pascal Duquenne and Miou-Miou carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "What a difference a day makes…".
8IMDB entry: tt0116581 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Walther van den Ende
Original score: Pierre van Dormael
Editing: Susana Rossberg
Production design: Hubert Pouille
Costume design: Yan Tax
Makeup / hair: Kaatje Van Damme
Runtime: 118 min · 1h 58m
Status: Released
Original language: FR
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: The Eighth Day (1996)

Also by

Jaco Van Dormael

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

deepkino2026-02-11
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 worth it. Daniel Auteuil plays the stressed, disconnected Harry to perfection, but Pascal Duquenne as Georges is the film’s magical heart. The magic isn't in big plot twists, but in the quiet, absurd, and beautiful moments where Georges' view of the world slowly dismantles Harry's. It avoids sheer sentimentality by being genuinely funny and sometimes painfully honest. The chemistry between Auteuil and Duquenne is incredible. A small, quiet film that hits like an emotional truck!

Production companies