Declaration of War is a love story, following two people named Romeo(Jérémie Elkaïm) and Juliette(Valerie Donzelli). Yet, this French film that was their entry in the Best Foreign Language award category, isn't the story of star crossed lovers fighting against a world hoping to keep them apart. It is a love story, but it's the love between two parents and their child, and their determination to form a united front against the terrible disease that threatens his life.
Don't walk in thinking this is some weeper you'll need a healthy dose of Kleenex to get through. Humor, a touch of whimsy, and a whole lot of imagination are the weapons in this fight, making for one of the best and unique movie experiences of the year. After a brief and fateful courtship that the two assume will lead to disaster based on their names, a whirlwind romance follows captured in joyous moments at the amusement park, chasing one another through city streets, sucking in life at its fullest. Their relationship is taken to the next level with the birth of their son, Adam. This beautiful boy becomes the center of their world, the reason for their existence, yet unlike other films the love between the two parents never falters. It merely changes and grows into something more.
Their world is flipped upside down as the ever watchful and worrisome Romeo begins to suspect something is wrong with their 18-month old boy, and soon their storybook romance becomes one of long hospital stays, grim faced doctors, and an uncertain future. To overcome it, and to keep their doting families from falling into disarray, Romeo and Juliette decide to form a united front against self pity and the destructiveness of doubt.Similar to the cancer comedy, 50/50, Declaration of War uses humor and a light-hearted touch to tackle what is usually depressing subject matter. Even as Romeo and Juliette go through some of their toughest, saddest moments, we see them make time to have fun, not just for themselves but with their son. They dance through the hospital hallways, sneak off to the beach, and share the occasional flirty wink. What brings the film together is the very personal nature of the story. Donzelli, who not only directed but co-wrote the script with Elkaïm, also shares a son with him who survived a bout with cancer. They bring something real to the story that most films of this nature simply can't match.
In one of the film's most crucial and uplifting moments, at a time of despair Romeo asks "Why did this happen to us?" Juliette bolsters his spirits and ours with a knowing smile and simply says "Because we can overcome it".
