`THE EIGHTH DAY' A THOUGHTFUL, BIG-HEARTED WALK IN THE SUN.

Byline: Janet Maslin The New York Times

When ``The Eighth Day'' was shown at the Cannes Film Festival last year, it was greeted with a mixture of derision and tears. I was surprised to find myself in the handkerchief brigade, by far the smaller faction because this film is unforgivable in so many ways. It's mawkish and pushy in a manner that identifies its director, Jaco van Dormael, who also made the very well-received ``Toto the Hero,'' as a former circus clown.

But it's also touching and unabashedly big-hearted as it shows a lonely executive being shaken out of his gray corporate universe, then reminded that the natural world is full of tender little miracles. Not such a bad point for a movie to make.

The stars of ``The Eighth Day,'' Pascal Duquenne and Daniel Auteuil, shared Cannes' Best Actor award for playing out a familiar movie story in surprisingly fresh ways. Duquenne, an actor who has Down syndrome, is the main reason ``The Eighth Day'' invites frequent comparison to ``Rain Man,'' though his is not a subtle star turn. The performance is rudimentary - happiness, sadness, hugging - but it has the advantage of looking spontaneous and real. Don't be all that surprised if he makes you cry, too.

In a hackneyed odd-couple pairing, Georges (Duquenne) and Harry (Auteuil) meet by accident (quite literally, since Harry stops his car to find Georges after the car hits a dog in the road). Georges has run away from the institution where he lives, and Harry has no idea what to do with him. Impatient as he is, Harry is also at liberty, since he has been left by his wife (Miou-Miou) and two children. As the film unfolds and the two men become fast friends, there's plenty of time for Harry to stop and smell the roses.

The first thing Harry must do is get used to Georges' way of living in the moment. Georges shouts, waves, touches or flashes a 1,000-watt smile at the slightest provocation. Of course, the button-down businessman finds himself beginning to enjoy this. He starts joining in the fun. He rediscovers that dread movie resource, a childlike sense of wonder. There is also an empty seaside amusement park just waiting to show Harry, Georges and Georges' friends from the institution a rollicking good time.

Amazingly, van Dormael tells this story as if neither he nor we had seen it dozens of times before. Broad strokes of magical realism also offer their share of heart-tugging surprise. In his daydreams, Georges is accompanied by his favorite singer, who sits on the hood of Harry's movie car in a purple-spangled mariachi suit and, at one remarkable juncture, appears in the form of a singing mouse. Georges also imagines a smiling, loving mother who asks ``How's my little boy?'' even though his real mother is dead.

The title, which comes from the film's idiosyncratic account of the world's creation, also refers to the way Harry is able to escape his cliche-ridden real life thanks to Georges' intervention.

Georges has the magic to let Harry step out of time. The film exploits that thought with a manipulative ending that makes its amusement-park episodes look dainty, but some of its sweet, peaceful moments really do have redemptive power.

THE FACTS

The film: ``The Eighth Day'' (not rated).

The stars: Daniel Auteuil, Pascal Duquenne and Miou-Miou.

Behind the scenes: Directed by Jaco van Dormael. Written by van Dormael with Laurette Vankeerberghen and Didier de Neck.

Running time: One hour, 54 minutes.

Playing: Laemmle's Music Hall in Beverly Hills.

Our rating: Three Stars.

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Photo

Photo: Georges (Pascal Duquenne, left) and Harry (Daniel Auteuil) take a break from their travels in ``The Eighth Day.''