The most notable part of Marion Cotillard’s performance in Two Days One Night is her walk. She careens through the film in a hunched propulsion embodying a character trying to save her job. It’s a brisk, beaten down, anxious walk of someone who is desperate and stretched nearly to her breaking point. I like the film a lot but it was one of those performances that draws attention to itself because in reality the actress is so beautiful, famous, & glamorous that one can get distracted marveling at the way she transforms herself into an ordinary, working class woman.
In the film she wears plain clothes (her bra straps are showing) and scant makeup, but its the walk that does it. Its a great walk even though I couldn’t for a second forget that it was a performance, an artistic choice. And so it’s interesting and something to note (or not) that when Ms. Cotillard arrived at the IFC center to introduce the film on Sunday night she appeared in simple, nice fitting jeans, an attractive blouse and extremely high heels. Stilettos. I think I detected a slight teeter (which seems only natural) but overall she was well balanced and upright as she made her way down the aisle. Those heels did draw attention to her walk. Look, I thought to myself, how Marion Cotillard is walking with such careful elegance in those heels! She’s a true french movie star (she can sing too!) breezing down the aisle on those staggering heels!
My friend lobbed her some softball questions like how do you prepare for a role like that? Do you read newspapers? The implication being something we already knew that she, Marion Cotillard, is so unlike the character she played. I can’t even remember her generic answer about not following any method. But I do remember those shoes. I think she caught my eye, briefly, (I was in an aisle seat up front) as she stepped off the stage, careful not to topple over into my lap.