Dir. Valérie Donzelli, 2010, France, 100 min, DCP, color
With Valérie Donzelli, Jérémie Elkaïm, César Desseix
In French with English subtitles

Critics Week, Cannes Film Festival 2011
Six Nominations, César Awards 2012 (Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, Best Film, Best Sound, Best Editing)

A young Parisian couple wages war on their newborn son’s grim medical diagnosis and leans on friends and family to support them in their struggle to prevent the tragedy from destroying their relationship.

Directly inspired by true events in their real lives, Valérie Donzelli and Jérémie Elkaim (who also co-wrote the screenplay) bring to the screen their fight to keep their toddler son alive. In her most personal film, Valérie Donzelli infuses this tragic story with an exhilarating and poetic mise-en-scène.

“Declaration of War” feels entirely alive. This story of two people who transform fear into action is inspiring.” – Stephen Holden, The New York Times

“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.” – Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post