I saw this film at Sundance 2010 and it quickly became one of my favorites for its heart and realism. The plot resembles a typical love story...Daniel meets Laura at work and over time they discover that they have much in common, enjoy each other's company and start to date outside work.

The difference is that Daniel has Down's Syndrome while Laura does not and that makes their relationship different. In addition despite missing a chromosome Daniel has a university degree and an intellects view of the world which he is able to use to both surprise and teach those around him.

The audience is similarly challenged as the film explores the need all human beings have for love and companionship and the danger of stereotypes when looking for that love. The Directors Álvaro Pastor and Antonio Naharro have managed to get superb performances from the entire cast and I wished I had the foresight to ask them how much of Daniel's humor was scripted for it feels as natural as any conversation I have had today. I sincerely hope to see this film again!

A guy with a University degree in his pocket finds a job and quickly falls in love with one of the females working in the same office. While she initially does not respond to him she does start to turn around and the first fragile stage for a relation is set. So far, an all too often used story. The twist to this is that the guy has Down's syndrome.

And with that twist the trouble starts - some people disagree with the developing relation, some people have trouble accepting the fact that people with Down's syndrome can actually be quite smart and very aware of the world around them.

As a film this one is nice - it touches on inter-human relations and acceptance of these relations by the people living around the people in the relations. It is believable and just lovely.

Next to a film it's also a message, and as a message it's a very strong and clear one: don't put people with a disability in a single box and expect all of them to be the same. I must admit I was one of those people that were not aware that some people with Down's syndrome were able to get University degrees. Having had only very limited contact with a couple people with the syndrome I didn't hold it possible. This film opened my eyes though and I shall never look at them with the same eyes again.

Good stuff and food for thought. 9 out of 10 wide eyed stares

The French box-office success is about a wealthy disabled man who paired with a brother from neighborhood: just put like this, it disgusts me even tough 20 millions of fellow compatriots saw it! Having written my law report about disability, the first and most difficult step for disabled people is to access to a normal life. So, my french movie about a disabled people who can have as money as he wants and in addition without involving real disabled people, it's fundamentally stupid!

Here, all this crap has been avoided as it's about real guy with Down syndrome that tries to live a normal life as a civil servant.

The first thing that I noticed is that those people really look alike, so much that they seem to be all relatives. So we can realize what a family is genetically speaking as it's about sharing the same (good or defects) genes.

Next, I was surprised to see that the working life was depicting with accuracy, unlike for example, De Palma's "Passion" where nobody seemed to have put a foot in an office! This part was really like my life: pushing papers, dreaming about colleagues, …

In addition, Daniel as a disabled man is close to a deaf friend of mine: as people kept pushing him away, he gets stuck to live with his possessive parents and have to come to terms that he would stay bachelor.

Regarding the script, the romance has maybe the usual and classic trip (surprise – connection – desire – reject – peace) but it transplants other issues as well: intimate relationship between disabled, the brotherly relation, the private life of Lola.

Finally, it's Lola who is maybe the more disabled here. It's never explained but her terrible past blocks her ability to love even though she is full of compassion.

In conclusion, it's a movie very realistic as it mixes happiness and sadness. In addition, the cast is amazing and sharing moments with disabled people would be always be more interesting than any Hollywood hot list!