Who Are Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne?
The Belgium-born Dardenne brothers are two of the most celebrated filmmakers of the ‘90s and ‘00s. Beginning with La Promesse in 1996 and continuing through such masterpieces as Rosetta, L’Enfant and The Kid With a Bike, they have built one of the most respected bodies of work in modern cinema, directing realist films known for their complex and profound explorations of moral and social issues. Their films often take place near Seraing, a small-to-medium-sized town on the outskirts of Liege, and typically cast local actors and non-professionals.
Their previous film, The Kid With a Bike, was the first time they cast a box office star that was new to their work (Cécile de France, who is very popular in France), but Two Days, One Night is the first time they’ve ever made a film with an internationally renowned star like Cotillard.