Simply Perfect

Admirable film.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

a puzzle from many, many crumbs. subtle performances. a real story. and fascinating definition of love. a film about family. about hope, angry, relatives. about expectations, cries and decisions. about the innocence. and about the sacrifice as basic ingredient of fight. about lost feelings and too high expectations. about the reflection of the other in yourself. a special more than beautiful film. strange and delicate. convincing in a manner who has the gift to remind new forms of the well known things. a film as testimony. and as poem about a war who changes all. a war who transforms and becomes the map for gestures, words and beginnings. a film about a couple against the ambiguity of the evil, and about a presure's form who transforms everything.

I thing that the best way to describe this film is "a real and credible story so well narrated". The acting was marvelous and the music memorable. So delightful to see, and again, very credible. It takes the subject of that sickness on a very mature an natural way so this it's not the kind of Hollywood movie where you feel sad, but you can't feel close to the characters.If you compare it with My Sister's Keeper, another movie on a similar subject, you will note that Declaration of War seems more realistic and dramatic. It also remember us that life is not made but superheroes, We are real people, full of a fears and insecurities.Very recommended!

@ 36th Hong Kong International Film FestivalBy being the opening film of the 36th Hong Kong International Film Festival, Declaration of War is a film that touches the audience hearts, but more importantly it talks about real humans, real events, real emotions and real surroundings. For that alone director and main actress deserves a simple round of applause. It is not easy to go through a traumatic experience and come out strongly by telling her life story through films. This film works because the director never stray away from its core issue of a couple dealing with their child having a brain trauma and all the other issues that goes along with it – losing money, jobs, lifestyle, relationships and ultimately themselves. It should be complimented that the film yet is about to play with a sense of humor along the way.Valerie Donzelli not only carries the film as the mother and wife, but directs a film that is so personal to her. It was my honour to meet such a strong lady at the festival. In the scene where she ran and ran in the hospital corridors until she collapses is a perfect example of originality in her camera work and her ability to depicts and communicate a difficult moment. Likewise her former partner Jeremie Elkaim excels in a role that compliments Valerie and two display amazing chemistry that cannot just be manufactured.All in all, Declaration of War is very much a personal film, about how a child's illness can affect almost everything in his parents life. Dealing with difficult times like these is never easy and often the wear and tear will stop any couple from living their lives. Points should be given to Valerie for being able to so convincing portray these emotions. Although the film seems raw at times, War is very much a perfect example of how an extremely personal film can still affect the audience. While the film may never be a masterpiece, Valerie have certainly created and shared something special…Neo rates 8.5/10www.thehkneo.com

French actress, screenwriter and director Valérie Donzelli's second feature film which she co-wrote with her co-star Jérémie Elkaïm, is inspired by their own personal experiences and is a French production which was shot on various locations in France. The film was produced by Edouard Weil, premiered at the opening night of the International Critic's Week at the 64th Cannes Film Festival in 2011 and was the French submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards in 2012. It tells the story about Romeo and Juliette who after meeting at a nightclub in Paris, France falls in love and starts a promising relationship. Juliette becomes pregnant, gives birth to their son who is named Adam and their prospects seems very good, but when Adam becomes ill and is taken to a doctor who discovers a tumor in his brain, their lives are transformed and they are faced with an unpredictable and uncontrollable situation.Acutely and engagingly directed by Valérie Donzelli, this well-paced, compassionately narrated and deeply humane tale which is set in Paris, France 2003, draws an inventive portrayal of a young Parisian couple who when confronted with a devastating predicament decides to remain strong and battle it out in their own remarkable way. While notable for it's naturalistic urban milieu depictions, the fine cinematography by cinematographer and actor Sébastien Buchmann, the quick-witted dialog and the brilliant score which emphasizes the films poignant atmosphere, this character-driven and dialog-driven comedy-drama depicts two intertwining in-depth studies of character and examines themes like interpersonal relations, parenting, cancer, love and human courage.This somewhat adventurous, charmingly romantic and at times musical-like independent film, is impelled and reinforced by the heartfelt and involving acting performances by second-time filmmaker Valérie Donzelli, French actor Jérémie Elkhaïm and the fine supporting acting performances by French actor Frédéric Pierrot and César Desseix in his first feature film role. An emotionally moving and life-affirming love-story which gained, among other awards, the award for Best Actor Jérémie Elkaïm, Best Actress Valérie Donzelli and Best Film at the Gijón International Film Festival in 2011.