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.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

Eine Liebe, eine Hoffnung, eine Mauer.

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Genres:

Romance | Drama

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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

Sophie: You wall in a whole country, then you pop over here for a cup of coffee.

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Connections

Featured in Auge in Auge - Eine deutsche Filmgeschichte (2008)

User Reviews

this movie doesn't break its promise of being great

Portraying several friends separated by the Berlin Wall, "Das Versprechen" - called "The Promise" in English - hits you right where it hurts. I thought that it was very interesting how the movie picks up about every ten years, showing the historical context each time (specifically the sign saying "Victory to the Vietnamese Revolution" in 1968, during Prague Spring). To my generation, the Berlin Wall remains part of history (I was only five when it fell), so we have to rely on movies like this to understand the whole thing. All in all, director Margarethe von Trotta did a very good job here, as did the whole cast. Definitely worth seeing.