Tonight’s film comes from Belgium.

Deux jours, une nuit (2014)

Whether you’re learning French or just looking for something to watch, Deux jours, une nuit is an important film.

The film takes place in Liège, and sheds light on how companies exploit their workers. The phrase ‘divide and rule’ is often associated with empires, but it’s also a common tactic of companies seeking to squeeze every penny from their wage bill. When Sandra’s colleagues are offered a €1,000 bonus in exchange for her dismissal, she has only a weekend to convince them to change their minds. Given the economic hardship faced by the workers, it’s a decision weighed against pressing burdens like monthly bills and rising debt.

The film highlights one of the most degrading and harmful consequences of capitalism; it makes it difficult to act in our best nature. Though there is much more that needs to change, a starting point is joining a union. This makes it harder for companies to exploit the difficult individual situations of workers for the sake of increased profit margins. If the workers had been paid a fair wage, the bonus in exchange for Sandra’s dismissal would never have been accepted in the first place. And if a business says it can’t afford not to underpay its workers, it’s not a viable business.

If you’re learning French, the following video discusses the notion of work, and the problems around it today :

Les infos clés sur le travail, l’emploi et le salaire

The following video looks at the history of revolutionary syndicalism in Belgium :

Une Histoire du Syndicalisme Révolutionnaire en Belgique

If you’re unsure when and how to use subtitles, advice can be found here :

How to Use Subtitles to Learn a Language

If you’re interested in learning French, there’s a How to Learn Languages guide :

How to Learn French

Take care, and enjoy the process!