Oscar et la dame rose, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt

This film was a very 'nice' film if the expression is allowed.

With this expression I refer to a 'feel good film' - or 'feel bad' if you are very sensible - a very predictable story about impossible friendship, parents who let you down, love, betrayal and the meaning of life.
All of this told in a very traditional filmic way, interfoliated by music and sometimes beautiful, humoristic and sentimental pictures and scenes.

It's a story about a young boy of ten, inflicted by cancer, hospitalized with no hope for the future as the doctors have tried all kinds of treatments.
His parents haven't courage enough to help and support him whereby he incidentally meets with a woman who delivers home made pizzas to the hospital.
He requests her to visit him and the doctor (Max von Sydow) urge her to comply to his wishes in return for him accepting the offer of her being the solely deliverer of pizzas to the hospital.
Reluctantly she agrees and between the two a friendship evolves, a friendship that changes both the life rest to live for the young boy but also the life of the rather tough and emotionally inhibited woman, afraid of sickness, hospitals and death.

This is not the first film to be realized by its author, in this case Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, who also adapted his book Odette Toulemonde for the movies, a film he also directed.
I don't think neither Schmitt nor e.g. Michel Houllebecq succeeds in adapting their books to the screnes.
It should be easy one might think, as they are the writers given the opportunity to direct their own stories.
However there are few succesful 'cross-overs', i.e. writers trying to direct or journalists trying to write novels.
When it comes to films I can't think of many writers but Marguerite Duras who's been succesful in adapting her books into the Seventh Art.

In this case everything is dependant on the acting by Michèl Laroque ('Rose') and Amir ('Oscar') and they are very charming and they coact very well.
As a Swede and being fond of Max von Sydow it's of course nice to see him in the role as the doctor, von Sydow nowadays being a 'Frenchman', married to Catherine Brelet and living in Paris.