Page - 60 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 02/02

60 | Stefanie Knauss www.jrfm.eu 2016, 2/2, 45–66 further relationships of family obligations or religious affiliations are introduced with their impact on her colleagues’ decision to support her or not, underlining the interdependence – although to varying degrees – that exists between all members of a community.34 Relationships are shown to be of existential im- portance, both psychologically and materially. Sandra’s relationships with her husband, family and friends help her to see herself as a valuable human being, and the building of relationships with her colleagues is the only means to at least attempt to keep the job she needs to support her family. The value of rela- tionship is further underlined by the way in which Sandra’s interactions with her colleagues are represented. She calmly explains her situation, responds to que- ries and listens to her colleagues’ arguments, and even if they refuse to support her, she takes her leave with a handshake or kisses on the cheeks that signal the possibility to continue the relationship in spite of disagreements. The theme of relationship is visually developed through the directors’ choice to show char- acters in the same frame even if they represent opposing views, so that while their opinions contradict each other, they are still united in one frame (fig. 7). Additionally, as in other films, pans from one person to another during a conver- sation trace their relationship instead of slicing it up through cuts in the classic shot/reverse-shot technique, often used for dialogue. Most remarkable from the perspective of a feminist development of Chris- tian social ethics is the way Sandra’s relationship with Manu, her husband, is de- picted in a vision of universal care ethics. Disrupting stereotypes of the female family worker who provides emotional support for her husband, and the au- thoritative male head of the household who is the breadwinner and steps in to fix the situation if a woman is in difficulties, the relationship between husband and wife is one of true partnership. Both share in the work at home – preparing meals, looking after the children, offering emotional support – and paid work. 34 See Scholz 1997, 24. Fig. 7: Film still, Two Days, One Night (BE/FR/IT 2014), 00:57:30.