Two Days, One Night
Sandra Bya, married with two children, has been off work from her job at Solwal on medical leave for depression. During her absence from work, her boss, M. Dumont, on the suggestion of her immediate supervisor, the shop foreman Jean-Marc, figures that her section of the company can function with sixteen people working full time with a bit of overtime instead of seventeen with no overtime, that seventeenth person being Sandra. Because of the global competition the company faces, Dumont decides the company can only finance the annual bonuses for those sixteen employees, which are EUR1,000 per person, or Sandra's job, leaving the decision to those sixteen. On a Friday near the end of her medical leave, Sandra learns of this situation from her friend and co-worker Juliette after the "show of hands" vote is held, the result a 13-3 decision for the bonuses over Sandra's job. Because Juliette knows Jean-Marc, who is determined to get rid of Sandra, influenced the vote by scare mongering through misinformation, Juliette and Sandra, at the end of the working day on Friday, are able to convince Dumont to hold another secret ballot on Monday morning, with Sandra needing a majority to keep her job, meaning nine votes. By Saturday morning, Sandra's supportive husband, Manu, convinces her that over the weekend she should speak to each and all of the thirteen who voted for the bonuses to get them to change their minds. The Byas not only need the income from Sandra's job but Manu believes the job is a symbol for Sandra of her own self worth, important now in her tenuous mental state. As Sandra reluctantly goes about this task, she finds that not only is she uncomfortable being in this somewhat confrontational situation, but that the people who voted against her have their own household conflicts over their own EUR1,000, which would keep some of them afloat financially. As the weekend progresses, Sandra will find if she is strong enough emotionally to deal with the situation.
Working with a tight budget of $7.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $9.0M in global revenue (+29% profit margin).
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 41 wins & 85 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Two Days, One Night (2014) exemplifies strategically placed dramatic framework, characteristic of Jean-Pierre Dardenne's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 35 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Sandra lies in bed, heavily medicated and depressed, barely able to function. Her husband Manu answers a phone call about a work situation while she remains withdrawn and fragile.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Sandra learns from her colleague Juliette that the foreman influenced the vote unfairly. The boss agrees to hold a new secret ballot on Monday morning, giving Sandra the weekend to convince her coworkers to vote for her instead of their bonuses.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Sandra knocks on the first colleague's door. She actively chooses to begin her mission, stepping into the uncomfortable journey of asking people to sacrifice their bonuses for her job. The visits begin., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Sandra faces devastating rejections and realizes how many colleagues truly need their bonuses. She has a breakdown, feeling the weight of asking people to sacrifice for her, and attempts suicide by overdosing on Xanax. Manu finds her and rushes her to the hospital., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Sandra confronts the reality that she may not have enough votes. She faces her deepest despair about her worth as a person and worker. A colleague tells her brutally that they need the money more than she needs the job, crystallizing her fear that she doesn't matter., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 76 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Sandra goes to the vote on Monday morning with newfound resolve. She has accepted that she cannot control the outcome, but she has fought for herself and reclaimed her sense of agency. She enters the final confrontation with quiet strength., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Two Days, One Night's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Two Days, One Night against these established plot points, we can identify how Jean-Pierre Dardenne utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Two Days, One Night within the drama genre.
Jean-Pierre Dardenne's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Jean-Pierre Dardenne films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Two Days, One Night takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jean-Pierre Dardenne filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Jean-Pierre Dardenne analyses, see Lorna's Silence.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Sandra lies in bed, heavily medicated and depressed, barely able to function. Her husband Manu answers a phone call about a work situation while she remains withdrawn and fragile.
Theme
Manu tells Sandra, "You have to fight for yourself." The film's theme of self-worth, solidarity, and whether people will choose personal gain or collective humanity is established.
Worldbuilding
Sandra learns she's been laid off after her colleagues voted to receive their €1,000 bonuses instead of keeping her employed. We see her fragile mental state, her supportive husband and children, and the stakes of her unemployment.
Disruption
Sandra learns from her colleague Juliette that the foreman influenced the vote unfairly. The boss agrees to hold a new secret ballot on Monday morning, giving Sandra the weekend to convince her coworkers to vote for her instead of their bonuses.
Resistance
Sandra resists the task, feeling it's humiliating and impossible. Manu encourages her to try. She prepares herself mentally, takes her medication, and begins making a list of colleagues to visit. Her doubt and anxiety are palpable.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Sandra knocks on the first colleague's door. She actively chooses to begin her mission, stepping into the uncomfortable journey of asking people to sacrifice their bonuses for her job. The visits begin.
Mirror World
Sandra encounters colleagues who show her genuine compassion and solidarity, particularly those who immediately agree to vote for her despite their own financial struggles. These interactions reflect the film's moral center: human dignity over money.
Premise
Sandra visits colleague after colleague, experiencing a range of responses: support, rejection, guilt, anger, and economic desperation. Each encounter reveals the moral complexity of her request and the real financial pressure her coworkers face. Small victories and painful defeats accumulate.
Midpoint
Sandra faces devastating rejections and realizes how many colleagues truly need their bonuses. She has a breakdown, feeling the weight of asking people to sacrifice for her, and attempts suicide by overdosing on Xanax. Manu finds her and rushes her to the hospital.
Opposition
After her suicide attempt, Sandra must continue her visits with even greater emotional fragility. Opposition intensifies: some colleagues are hostile, others are torn, and the foreman actively works against her. The pressure of her mission and her mental health crisis converge.
Collapse
Sandra confronts the reality that she may not have enough votes. She faces her deepest despair about her worth as a person and worker. A colleague tells her brutally that they need the money more than she needs the job, crystallizing her fear that she doesn't matter.
Crisis
Sandra processes the likely loss. She contemplates what it means if she loses the vote, confronting her depression and self-worth independent of the outcome. She reaches an internal reckoning about her dignity and value beyond her employment.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Sandra goes to the vote on Monday morning with newfound resolve. She has accepted that she cannot control the outcome, but she has fought for herself and reclaimed her sense of agency. She enters the final confrontation with quiet strength.
Synthesis
The secret ballot takes place. Sandra wins by one vote, but learns that one colleague, a single mother from Africa, will be fired to keep both Sandra and the bonuses. Sandra refuses this solution and tells the boss she cannot accept the job under these terms, choosing solidarity over personal survival.
Transformation
Sandra walks out of the factory with Manu. Though she has lost her job, she has won something greater: her self-respect and moral integrity. She is no longer the depressed, defeated woman from the opening. She stands tall, ready to fight for herself in other ways.