Declaration of War (2012)
81%RT Audience Score: 70%
Awards & Nominations: 10 wins & 11 nominations
Declaration of War” is a cinematic masterpiece that takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster ride through the harrowing journey of two parents fighting for their child’s life against a formidable foe: cancer. Valrie Donzelli and Jrmie Elkam’s real-life experience is brought to life with a creative and digestible approach that balances humor and heartbreak. The tonal shifts, punk-retro soundtrack, and “Amelie”-style voiceover may jar some viewers, but it’s alternative therapy that really works. The film imparts a life-affirming message about endurance, love, and life’s sudden gear shifts that will leave you feeling inspired and moved. It’s the raddest Lifetime movie you’ll ever see, and a must-watch for anyone who appreciates raw, visceral storytelling.
Declaration of War” is like a Lifetime movie on steroids, but in a good way. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions that will have you laughing one minute and crying the next. The fact that the stars and co-writers are a real-life couple who went through this experience makes it all the more powerful. It’s a touching and honest portrayal of endurance, love, and the sudden gear shifts that life can throw at you. Plus, the punk-retro soundtrack is pretty rad.
Production Company(ies)
Red Box Films, Passion Pictures, Canfield Pictures,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2011
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):French
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 27, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 5, 2012
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Declaration of War, drama, French, Valérie Donzelli, Jérémie Elkaïm, directed by Valérie Donzelli, written by Valérie Donzelli, Jérémie Elkaïm, Edouard Weil, box office gross, $46.2K, MPAA rating, 86% Tomatometer, 70% audience score, cancer, parents, family, love, support system, illness, biographical, narration, musical number, tragedy, hope, optimism, fear, survival, battle, courage, life-or-death, emotional, affecting, heartfelt, poignant, touching, honest, creative, alternative therapy, humor, drama-comedy, indie film, French cinema, limited release, streaming, rent/buy, Juliette, Roméo Benaïm, Claudia, Alex, Geneviève l, Philippe, Ann Hornaday, Joe Williams, Moira MacDonald, Wesley Morris, Roger Ebert, Leonard Maltin, Scott Nye, Myriam Ghattas, Erick Weber, Jim Schembri
Worldwide gross: $7,691,610
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $10,125,988
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,964
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,104,252
US/Canada gross: $59,100
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $77,805
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,693
US/Canada opening weekend: $12,791
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $16,839
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,569
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Jérémie Elkaïm – Roméo Benaïm
Brigitte Sy – Claudia
Elina Löwensohn – Alex
Michèle Moretti – Geneviève l
Philippe Laudenbach – Philippe
Director(s)
Valérie Donzelli
Writer(s)
Valérie Donzelli, Jérémie Elkaïm
Producer(s)
Edouard Weil
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
10 wins & 11 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (43) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (6)
True to its title, “Declaration of War” is a visceral, forthright visit to the front lines of battle, where superhuman courage is called for as life-or-death skirmishes turn into a long slog of survival.
March 23, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4
Ann Hornaday
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
The tonal shifts, the “Amelie”-style voiceover and the punk-retro soundtrack may jar some viewers who expect uninterrupted violins, but “Declaration of War” is alternative therapy that really works.
March 9, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
“Declaration of War” movingly chronicles a unique and terrible fight: that of two parents against the cancer that has invaded the brain of their 18-month-old son.
February 16, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4
Moira MacDonald
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
As ponderous and overwrought as a film hogged by a couple of young hipsters named Romo and Juliette can be.
February 16, 2012 | Rating: 2/4
Wesley Morris
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
The film may even be too upbeat, especially the ending, which is too easy and contrived. Yet there’s real emotion here…
February 16, 2012 | Rating: 3/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
What makes Declaration of War even more unusual is that the stars (Valrie Donzelli and Jrmie Elkam) and co-writers are the real-life couple who lived through this experience;
February 3, 2012
Leonard Maltin
leonardmaltin.com
TOP CRITIC
I’m not at all surprised to learn the story came from Donzelli and Elkaïm’s real-life experience, as all the details feel so lived, so immediate. I am doubly impressed, then…
March 16, 2021
Scott Nye
Battleship Pretension
Donzelli and Elkam infuse their script with a fair share of humor while dealing with a morbid subject without ever becoming irreverent or exploitative.
February 13, 2017
Myriam Ghattas
Daily News Egypt
The raddest Lifetime movie you’ll ever see.
August 24, 2012 | Rating: A-
Erick Weber
NECN
Touching, balanced and honest, the film imparts a life-affirming message about endurance, love and life’s sudden gear shifts.
June 26, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/5
Jim Schembri
3AW
Donzelli’s film is an incredibly brave one, given its subject matter and biographical nature, and is presented in a creative yet digestible way.
May 27, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Ed Gibbs
Empire Magazine Australasia
The underlying drama holds the film together even when self indulgence and the rawness of inexperience weakens the film
May 11, 2012
Andrew L. Urban
Urban Cinefile…
Plot
Roméo and Juliette are two young actors. They fall in love at first sight, move in together and make a baby. A love story and the founding of a home like millions of others. Except that their little boy, Adam, behaves abnormally. The young parents try hard to persuade themselves that everything is okay but, with the passing of time, they cannot delude themselves anymore : their son has a problem. Their fears are unfortunately confirmed : Adam suffers from a malignant brain tumor. From now on, war is declared. A war against illness. A war against Death. A war against despair.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Valérie Donzelli, who plays Juliette in the film, also co-wrote and directed it, and based it on her own experiences with her son’s illness.
Valérie-Donzelli.jpg
