Das Versprechen (1995)

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, ... See full summary »

Director:

Margarethe von Trotta

Writers:

Peter Schneider (dialogue), Felice Laudadio,

Stars:

Meret Becker, Corinna Harfouch, Anian Zollner

4 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Meret Becker	...	Sophie I
Corinna Harfouch	...	Sophie II
Anian Zollner	...	Konrad I
August Zirner	...	Konrad II
Susanne Ugé	...	Barbara I
Eva Mattes	...	Barbara II
Pierre Besson	...	Harald I
Hans Kremer	...	Harald II
Dieter Mann	...	Konrad's Father
Simone von Zglinicki	...	Konrad's mother (as Simone von Zglienicki)
Ruth Glöss	...	Konrad's grandmother
Christian Herschmann	...	Alexander (12 years)
Joerg Meister	...	Alexander - 20 years (as Jörg Meister)
Jean-Yves Gautier	...	Gérard
Ulrike Krumbiegel	...	Elisabeth

Storyline

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

murder | sex | title directed by female | communism | 1980s | 

---

Taglines:

Eine Liebe, eine Hoffnung, eine Mauer.

---

Genres:

Romance | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a scene of sex, and for language

Details

Country:

Germany France Switzerland

Language:

German

Release Date:

3 November 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

La promesse

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Box Office

Gross:

$91,145 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bioskop Film, Canal+, Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Black and White Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Narrator: [first lines - over images of the raising of the Berlin Wall] In August, 1961, the world was already divided. But no one ever dreamt of this long border reaching it's full height. Moscow had the copyright for the concept and execution. West German firms delivered the barbed wire.
German speaker: An unjust regime committed a new injustice.
Harry S. Truman: We want you to know that the pledge we have given to the freedom of West Berlin has been...
Narrator: The West protested. Threatened. Lamented. The wall grew. All arteries between the ...

---

Connections

Featured in Die Neugier immer weiter treiben (1995)

User Reviews

I'm an 18 year old male college student, read my thoughts.

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.