The Promise [DVD] [2017]

must see Issac is Superb

This is a film that covers the Armenian genocide by the Turks during World War I.The very few sex scenes are kept discrete, with no naked tits or bums, which is a relief, but which could just as easily have been left out altogether to the benefit of the film as a whole. At the same time much more could have been made of the younger women (think Vera Brittan / Alicia Vikander in Testament of Youth, and Katniss Everdeen / Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games - the first film, not the subsequent ones, or even Johanna / Helena Zengel in News of the World) whilst at the same time skipping the improbable love triangle that is interwoven in what is actually the extremely serious business of (i) getting the story of the Armenian Genocide told, and (ii) the rescuing of a sizeable number of Armenians by the French, of all people.Whilst in no way condoning Turkish behaviour towards the Armenians, which was truly dreadful, there is a Turkish and German side to the story that this film doesn't really deal with. Arguably, with Russia a powerful enemy to the north and the French and British Empire Allies attacking the Turks from all the other points of the compass, the [Christian] Armenians were an internal security threat (imaginary or otherwise) to the [Moslem] Ottoman Empire that had to neutralised, albeit, I hasten to add, not in the manner undertaken in 1915. Furthermore, to their credit, prominent Germans in Turkey did tell the authorities in Berlin what their Turkish allies were up to and asked the Kaiser to intervene to stop it.In short, a just about better than OK film, that promises more than it delivers, and which is unlikely to be watched multiple times by anybody.

It must have three decades ago that I watched a documentary on the core subject of this superbly crafted movie. The lead cast are excellent, and the story, based around generally true events, will shock and bring about some insight into a piece of almost forgotten but vitally important history. Really worth a watch.

I like the fact that this little known event has now been portrayed on dvd. The love triangle story that runs through it is good as well. I'm not one for love stories, but this one was very well done and fitted well into the main portrayal of events.

It isn't as good as the Water Diviner. Although based on fact it occasionally loses momentum and only at the end does one realise the purpose of the film. Less of a compelling revelation more of - so that's what happened. Christian Bale 'glues' the film together as does fantastic photography and location choice. But direction needs to be sharper.

Completely captivated with this film. Wanted to see it at the cinema but was not shown at the local cinema. Bought the DVD and will lend it to friends. The massacre of the Armenians by the Turks needs to be brought to the fore and not forgotten!

A well-mounted production of a tale that reminds us that history repeats itself when we don't heed itswarnings. The plot centres on a young idealist from the Armenian community in WW1-era Turkey whenthe latter country uses its alliance with Germany to rid itself of the Christian Armenians in the largelyhidden genocide that may well have served as a pointer for a certain WW1 German soldier named Adolf Hitler. With a good cast and production values, the film does well in telling its tragic story in both thepersonal and general context of that time and place.

What should have been a film about a brutal tragic genocide was turned into a puff-piece romantic triangle. Could and should have been much harder hitting. The fact that it's a '12' says a lot.