Exclusive: Marion Cotillard Hears The Birds Sing In Clip From 'Two Days, One Night'

Last week, the short list for the Foreign Film Oscar race was unveiled, and among the more curious snubs was the one for Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardennes‘ "Two Days, One Night." The film had been riding a huge wave of critical acclaim ever since its debut in Cannes, with particular focus on the moving performance by Marion Cotillard at its core. But don’t let awards prospects change your plans on seeing "Two Days, One Night" — it’s one of the very best of the year, and today we have an exclusive clip from the film.

Co-starring Fabrizio Rongione, who gives a lovely turn as the supportive husband Manu, the story centres on Sandra, who faces the prospect of losing her job unless she can convince her co-workers over the course of one weekend to give up their bonuses so she can stay. Making matters trickier is Sandra is also recovering from a bout of depression, and she finds that well of hopelessness rising again as she desperately fights to keep the job that provides for her home and family. Again, Cotillard gives a raw, powerful performance and it’s one that found her diving deep into research to understand the complexity of Sandra’s feelings.

“I came, myself, very close to depression. It didn’t last long, because I have an ability to fight, and I’m a pretty good fighter. I fought with everything I could, because I didn’t want to fall in a deep state of depression,” Cotillard told The Wrap. “But because I came close, I could feel what it is to lose any sense of taste, to lose your energy, to lose your purpose. And so suddenly I could understand that it’s not that easy. It’s not just, you’re healthy, you’re alive, just move yourself. Sometimes you just cannot do it. So of course, those experiences helped me to understand Sandra and create her.”

Below watch Manu encourage Sandra as she takes a break from visiting her co-workers. "Two Days, One Night" opens today in limited release.