The Promise
The Promise
| 16 February 1995 (USA)
The Promise Trailers

East-Berlin, 1961, shortly after the erection of the Wall. Konrad, Sophie and three of their friends plan a daring escape to Western Germany. The attempt is successful, except for Konrad, who remains behind. From then on, and for the next 28 years, Konrad and Sophie will attempt to meet again, in spite of the Iron Curtain. Konrad, who has become a reputed Astrophysicist, tries to take advantage of scientific congresses outside Eastern Germany to arrange encounters with Sophie. But in a country where the political police, the Stasi, monitors the moves of all suspicious people (such as Konrad's sister Barbara and her husband Harald), preserving one's privacy, ideals and self-respect becomes an exhausting fight, even as the Eastern block begins its long process of disintegration.

Reviews
Thehibikiew

Not even bad in a good way

... View More
Forumrxes

Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

... View More
Ariella Broughton

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

... View More
Guillelmina

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

... View More
matali-1

This is a great movie that many people can enjoy. I have seen the movie a few times and never get tired of it. It is a wonderful love story set in a terrible time. This film definitely caught the feeling of the era and I would definitely recommend this movie. Some people would be turned off because of the subtitles....but all I have to say is just give the movie a chance. The acting is top notch and the style of filming is quite good. It is a nice change from the constant Hollywood style that is usually forced upon us.

... View More
mail-156

As the film covers 30 years, the key emotional points of such a story are incredibly accurate. The film's tone is brilliantly handled, the delicate weakening of the spirit, the darkening of the world, the East buildings subtly not changing but getting older while the West becomes subtly more modern. Unless one lived through much of the story, much may be missed. But every detail is important. Credit to the director, the writer and the actors for incredible performances: the repressed anger, the repressed joy, the repressed hope... everything just below the surface. Forever, the question, who could have done what differently? There was never an answer then, and there is no answer now.

... View More
cclause

Hello, I viewed Das Versprechen in Germany during the summer of 1997. Like most guys, I prefer the action genre, blood and guts and so. I appreciate good love stories, but usually don't take to them. My favorite genre is that containing art films and whimsical films(i.e. A Night on Earth, Il Mostro) I do not usually get emotional during a love story inspired film, but I did during this one. It certainly was not close to the depth of say Sophie's Choice, however it was an extremely well done film. I highly recommend taking a couple of hours to watch this film, after seeing it, one will feel better about one's person.

... View More
moveebob

Ms. von Trotta directs with a very sure hand this very large canvas political drama about the divisions the German wall put between friends on both sides and how foolish its arbitrariness was. Wonderful acting and well worth spending time with. Stunningly photographed, as well.

... View More