I never thought a straightforward story could be so gripping, until I saw “Deux Jours, Une Nuit”. It gets inside your head and heart, rubbing your emotions raw. Marion Cotillard, who was Oscar nominated for her outstanding performance, plays a worker at a small factory who, upon being released from the hospital (where she has been treated for depression), discovers that she has lost her job. Her boss is determined to cut costs, but he offers her one last chance: if she can convince her fellow workers to give up their bonuses, he’ll rehire her. Problem is, she only has the weekend to visit all 16 workers and change their minds before Monday morning. In doing so, the movie raises many questions and holds us in its grip for 100 minutes. Cotillard handles this volatile material with unblinking ferocity and feeling. She did the same with her 2007 Oscar winning performance in “La Vie en Rose”. Here, her performance is more than acting, it’s a gathering storm, her eyes a roadmap to what’s tearing her apart. Her pride won’t allow her to cry or beg. “Deux Jours, Une Nuit” is unforgettable. It means to shake you, and does.

Rating: 3/4