This film is surprisingly good. Very low budget with few sets or special effects and literally no adult actors, I Declare War nonetheless scores extremely high on the thought provoking barometer. It forces us to examine the real nature of friendship and perhaps to realize that true friendship is sadly extremely rare.
A group of about a dozen boys play out a war game in the local woods. There are strict rules of engagement and death is established through a direct hit with small balloon filled with red dye. No one is meant to get hurt but, as with all wars, rules are broken and the passion of the moment has its own momentum.
But this is not just a plot about the corrupting effects of aggression and power over victims. A whole series of relationships exist amongst these boys. The leader of one side has a 'best friend' whom he protects above the safety of others whilst the opposing commander, a dreamy eyed beautiful youth, is befriended by a besotted girl who will stop at nothing to impress him. There are ex-friends who have become enemies, jilted friends who wish to regain their standing and just normal mates who hang out with each other under the guise of friendship.
Each of these relationships is put to the real test and each is exposed for what it really is. In the end there is only one true friendship amongst them all and the stark reality of our own lives is chillingly revealed. This is not a film about war but actually about love. It is well worth seeing for all age groups.
