Eastern Promises (2007)

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writer:

Steven Knight (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 September 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Every sin leaves a mark.

Plot:

A Russian teenager living in London who dies during childbirth leaves clues to a midwife in her journal that could tie her child to a rape involving a violent Russian mob family.

Plot Keywords:

Russian | Diary | Baby | Midwife | Hospital

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 24 wins & 35 nominations

Cast

Josef Altin	...	Ekrem
Mina E. Mina	...	Azim
Aleksander Mikic	...	Soyka
Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse	...	Tatiana (as Sarah Jeanne Labrosse)
Lalita Ahmed	...	Customer
Badi Uzzaman	...	Chemist
Naomi Watts	...	Anna
Doña Croll	...	Nurse (as Dona Croll)
Raza Jaffrey	...	Doctor Aziz
Sinéad Cusack	...	Helen (as Sinead Cusack)
Jerzy Skolimowski	...	Stepan
Tatiana Maslany	...	Tatiana (voice)
Viggo Mortensen	...	Nikolai
Vincent Cassel	...	Kirill
Armin Mueller-Stahl	...	Semyon
Shannon-Fleur Roux	...	Maria
Lillibet Langley	...	Violin Girl
Mia Soteriou	...	Azim’s Wife
Radoslaw Kaim	...	Head Waiter (as Rad Kaim)
Donald Sumpter	...	Yuri
Rhodri Wyn Miles	...	Senior Officer (as Rhodri Miles)
Tereza Srbova	...	Kirilenko
Elisa Lasowski	...	Prostitute
Cristina Catalina	...	Prostitute
Alice Henley	...	Prostitute
Faton Gerbeshi	...	Pimp
David Papava	...	Chechen
Tamer Hassan	...	Chechen
Gergo Danka	...	Junior Waiter
Michael Sarne	...	Valery (as Mike Sarne)
Boris Isarov	...	Russian Boss
Yuri Klimov	...	Russian Boss
Andrzej Borkowski	...	The Gypsy
Olegar Fedoro	...	Tattooist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Diane Beck	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Morne Botes	...	Vespa Rider (uncredited)
Tony Cook	...	Football Hooligan (uncredited)
James Fiddy	...	Football Supporter (uncredited)
Tatyana Lavrentyeva	...	Mafia's Wife (uncredited)
Wayne Morgan-Williams	...	Football Hooligan (uncredited)
Anna Pernicci	...	Sonya (uncredited)
Robert Roman Ratajczak	...	Football fan (uncredited)
Rebecca Reid	...	Prostitute (uncredited)
Peter Rnic	...	Fingers (uncredited)
John Warman	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Chris Wilson	...	Paramedic (uncredited)

Directed by
David Cronenberg

Writing credits
Steven Knight		(screenplay) (as Steve Knight)

Produced by
Jeff Abberley	....	executive producer
Julia Blackman	....	executive producer
Stephen Garrett	....	executive producer
Robert Lantos	....	producer
Tracey Seaward	....	co-producer
David M. Thompson	....	executive producer
Paul Webster	....	producer

Original Music by
Howard Shore

Cinematography by
Peter Suschitzky		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ronald Sanders

Casting by
Deirdre Bowen
Nina Gold

Production Design by
Carol Spier

Art Direction by
Rebecca Holmes
Nick Palmer		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Judy Farr

Costume Design by
Denise Cronenberg

Makeup Department
Christine Blundell	....	makeup artist: Ms. Watts
Stephan Dupuis	....	makeup designer
Luke Fisher	....	prosthetics sculptor: Animated extras
Pauline Fowler	....	prosthetics chief supervisor: Animated Extras
Charmaine Fuller	....	makeup artist
Mary-Lou Green-Benvenuti	....	key hair stylist
Rod Hamlin	....	lifecaster and moldmaker: Animated Extyras (as Rod Hamblin)
Chris Kearey	....	prosthetics head of department moldmaker: Animnated Extras
Waldo Mason	....	prosthetics silicone painter and finisher: Animated Extras
Con McCloskey	....	prosthetics skins and finisher: Animated Extras
Daniel Meaker	....	prosthetics silicone: Animated Extras
Paul Mooney	....	first assistant hair stylist
John Nollet	....	hair colorist: Vincent Cassel
Tracy O'Brien	....	prosthetics silicone painter and finisher: Animated Extras
Lucy Sibbick	....	makeup assistant
Jim Sparrow	....	prosthetics lifecaster: Animated Extras
Dave Stoneman	....	tattoos supplier: Maek-Up
Nik Williams	....	prosthetics workshop supervisor: Animated Extras

Production Management
Lisa Parker	....	unit production manager
Bobby Prince	....	unit manager
Lori A. Waters	....	post-production supervisor (as Lori Waters)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Walter Gasparovic	....	first assistant director
Ben Howard	....	second assistant director
Andrew Mannion	....	third assistant director
Candy Marlowe	....	crowd second assistant director
Jeremy Angel	....	crowd assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Barry Abbot	....	scenic carpenter (as Barry Abbott)
David Abbott	....	supervising carpenter (as Dave Abbot)
Ronnie Bede	....	supervising stagehand
Bruce Bigg	....	property master
Peter Bigg	....	chargehand dressing props
William Bimpson	....	rigger
Kevin Brown	....	art department trainee
Corina Burrough	....	props buyer
Graham Caulfield	....	drapesman
Lennie Clark	....	plasterer
Dean Clegg	....	chief draughtsman
Chris Cockburn	....	plasterer
Stan Cook	....	prop storeman
Chris Corke	....	scenic carpenter
David Creed	....	construction manager (as Dave Creed)
Catharina Curtis	....	art department assistant (as Katie Curtis)
Catharina Curtis	....	model maker (as Katie Curtis)
John Daynes	....	scenic painter
John Dearn	....	plasterer
Mark Dearn	....	plasterer laborer
Robert J. Dugdale	....	scenic artist (as Robert Dugdale)
Robert Dunn	....	plasterer
Peter Edge	....	stand-by painter
Michael Fleming	....	dressing props
David Gibson	....	scenic carpenter (as Dave Gibson)
Anthony Goddard	....	scenic painter (as Tony Goddard)
Lee Goddard	....	scenic painter
David Gray	....	stand-by rigger (as Dave Gray)
Alexis Hamilton	....	props trainee: FT2
Pat Harrison	....	plasterer
Peter Hasler	....	dressing props
John Heayn	....	scenic carpenter (as Jon Heayn)
Leonie Heys-Cerchio	....	art department trainee (as Leonie Heys Cerchio)
William Keenan	....	rigger
Helen Koutas	....	graphic designer
David Lowery	....	scenic carpenter
Micky Martin	....	stagehand
Lisa Meller	....	art department runner
Amy Merry	....	art department trainee
Paul Mitchell	....	supervising rigger
Aeron Montgomery	....	rigger
Gary Moore	....	stand-by carpenter
Richard Neal	....	plasterer
Barry O'Brien	....	scenic carpenter
Roy O'Brien	....	scenic carpenter
Tyrone Greg O'Donnell	....	scenic painter
Micky Oliver	....	scenic carpenter
David Packard	....	scenic artist
Catherine Palmer	....	assistant art director (as Cat Palmer)
George Roberts	....	scenic painter
John Roberts	....	supervising painter
Silvana Rowe	....	home economist
Rolf Snellgrove	....	scenic carpenter (as Ralph Snellgrow)
Warren Stickley	....	key stand-by props
Sarah Stuart	....	stand-by art director
Kevin Swabey	....	scenic carpenter
Anna Thomas	....	art department trainee (as Anna Louise Thomas)
Steve Transfield	....	supervising plasterer
Matt Whelan	....	scenic carpenter (as Matthew Whelan)
Gary Wiffen	....	stand-by props (as Gary Wiffin)

Sound Department
Mark Appleby	....	adr recordist: UK
Orin Beaton	....	boom operator
Rob Bertola	....	sound effects editor (as Robert Bertola)
Paul Carr	....	adr mixer: UK
Christian T. Cooke	....	adr recordist: Canada (as Christian Cooke)
Christian T. Cooke	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Christian Cooke)
Tony Currie	....	dialogue editor
Jenna Dalla Riva	....	foley recording assistant
Jenna Dalla Riva	....	sound recordist
James Gibb	....	sound trainee: FT2
Jamie Gould	....	sound mix technician
Alastair Gray	....	dialogue editor
Wayne Griffin	....	supervising sound editor
Matthew Hussey	....	assistant sound editor
Goro Koyama	....	foley artist
Mitch Low	....	sound assistant
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Anna Malkin	....	foley recording assistant
Rudy Michael	....	assistant adr recordist: Canada
Steve Moore	....	assistant adr recordist: Canada
Michael O'Farrell	....	supervising sound editor
Paul Sacco	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Orest Sushko	....	sound re-recording mixer
Don White	....	foley recording mixer
Stuart Wilson	....	sound mixer
Mark Zsifkovits	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gren-Erich Zwicker	....	assistant sound editor
Tony Currie	....	adr editor (uncredited)
Caoimhe Doyle	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Nick Foley	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Manex Efrem	....	special effects supervisor: Darkside Ltd.
Tamzine Hanks	....	prosthetics mechanic: Animated Extras (as Tamsin Hanks)
Stephen Paton	....	senior special effects technician: Darkside Ltd. (as Steve Paton)
Matthew Roberts	....	special effects technician
Steve Wright	....	prosthetics mechanic: Animated Extras
Ben Broadbridge	....	special effects assistant: dailies (uncredited)
Michael Dawson	....	special effects coordinator (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Barb Benoit	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Dennis Berardi	....	visual effects executive producer: Mr. X Inc.
Kyle Boylen	....	additional visual effects: Invisible Pictures
Dan Carnegie	....	visual effects animator: Mr. X Inc.
David Fix	....	senior systems administrator: Mr. X Inc
Annu Gulati	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Victoria Holt	....	visual effects coordinator: Mr. X Inc.
Noel Hooper	....	additional visual effects: Invisible Pictures
Ahmad Ismail	....	digital intermediate opticals
Mai-Ling Lee	....	visual effects animator: Mr. X Inc.
Trevor Lewis	....	digital intermediate scanning and recording
Chris MacKenzie	....	digital intermediate opticals (as Chris Mackenzie)
Haydn Masuda	....	additional visual effects: Invisible Pictures
John Moores	....	digital compositor
Ian Morehead	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Nick Paulozza	....	digital intermediate scanning and recording
Christa Tazzeo	....	additional visual effects: Invisible Pictures
Jean Phillipe Traore	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Aaron Weintraub	....	visual effects supervisor: Mr. X Inc.
Fiona Campbell Westgate	....	senior visual effects producer: MR. X Inc.
Neil Williamson	....	additional visual effects: Invisible Pictures
Motassem Younes	....	digital intermediate opticals
Bonnie Dickson	....	compositing assistant (uncredited)
Matt Glover	....	visual effects production assistant (uncredited)

Stunts
Lucy Allen	....	stunts
Gary Arthurs	....	stunts
Stephanie Carey	....	stunts
George Cottle	....	stunts
Paul Herbert	....	stunt coordinator
Dominic Preece	....	stunts (as Domonic Preece)
Julian Spencer	....	stunt coordinator
Brice Stratford	....	stunts
Gary Arthurs	....	stunt driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Allkins	....	electrician
Paul Barker	....	rigging electrician
Roy Branch	....	electrician
Catharine Brown	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Tommy Carling	....	rigging electrician (as Tommy Carlin)
Luke Chisholm	....	assistant grip
John Clarke	....	electrician
Andy Cole	....	best boy electric
John Colley	....	chief lighting technician
Kate Cooper	....	camera trainee
Nic Cupac	....	grip
Catherine Derry	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Kevin Fitzpatrick	....	electrician
Robert Gavigan	....	rigging electrician
Victoria Hanna	....	camera trainee: FT2 (as Vicky Simpson)
Darren Harvey	....	electrician
Nick Kenealy	....	production video assist
Ben Kerr	....	electrician
Stephen Lee	....	production video assist
Danny Madden	....	rigging electrician
Vince Madden	....	rigging gaffer
Adrian McCarthy	....	key grip
Peter Mountain	....	still photographer
Gary Nagle	....	rigging electrician
Mike Parsons	....	electrician
David Penfold	....	first assistant camera
Roger Tooley	....	Steadicam operator
Alf Tramontin	....	Steadicam operator
Matt Wilson	....	electrician (as Matthew Wilson)
Catharine Brown	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Giles Keyte	....	additional still photographer (uncredited)
Dave Wells	....	additional grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Vanessa Baker	....	adr voice casting
Brendan Donnison	....	adr voice casting
Christopher Richards	....	casting associate: Canada
Robert Sterne	....	casting associate: UK (as Robert Stern)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kathryn Blight	....	costume stand-by
Christopher Bradshaw	....	set costume supervisor (as Chris Bradshaw)
Viveene Campbell	....	costume trainee: FT2
Nigel Egerton	....	assistant costume designer
Julie Merritt	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Greg Barrett	....	producer: high definition dailies
Tavia Charlton	....	digital intermediate project manager
Nick Iannelli	....	digital intermediate producer
Sandra McCallig	....	assistant editor: UK
Jamie Moreton	....	grader: high definition dailies
Dave Muscat	....	digital intermediate editor
Mila Patriki	....	high-definition preview colorist
Sandy Pereira	....	assistant editor: Canada (as Sandy M. Pereira)
Catherine Rankin	....	negative cutter
Emma Sanders	....	post-production coordinator
Tad Seaborn	....	assistant editor
Chris Wallace	....	digital intermediate colorist
Motassem Younes	....	high definition preview editor
Stephen Bearman	....	colorist: dailies (uncredited)

Music Department
Jon Banks	....	musician: cimbalom/santoor
Robin Baynton	....	second assistant score engineer
Nicola Benedetti	....	musician: solo violin
Tom Bowes	....	orchestra leader
Jim Bruening	....	music preparation
Nicholas Bucknall	....	musician: solo clarinet (as Nicholas Buchnell)
Chris Cozens	....	auricle control systems
Jennifer L. Dunnington	....	music editor (as Jennifer Dunnington)
Bibs Ekkel	....	musician: balalaika
Karen Elliott	....	music supervisor
Vic Fraser	....	music preparation: Global Music Ltd.
Helen Gavriel	....	assistant to music supervisor: Hothouse Music Ltd.
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Robert Hill	....	musician: solo clarinet
Greg Knowles	....	musician: cimbalom/santoor
Richard Lancaster	....	score ProTools operator
Abbie Lister	....	assistant to music supervisor: Hothouse Music Ltd.
Igor Outkine	....	musician: on-screen accordion
Simon Rhodes	....	music scoring mixer
Simon Rhodes	....	score recordist
Pieter Schoeman	....	orchestra leader
Howard Shore	....	conductor
Howard Shore	....	orchestrator
Howard Shore	....	score producer
Jill Streeter	....	music preparation: GlobalMusic Ltd. (as Jill Streater)
Matthew Todd	....	orchestra contractor
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearance (uncredited)
Alan Frey	....	music production coordinator (uncredited)
Jesse Pynigar	....	music preparation (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Clint Bailey	....	driver: marine safety
Gavin Ball	....	driver: minibus
Mike Beaven	....	transportation captain
Allan Bradshaw	....	production driver
Francis Brant	....	driver: prop runaround
Barry Cholerton	....	driver: dressing prop
Roy Clarke	....	unit driver
Heiko Daugau	....	facility driver
Kevin Dore	....	driver: stagehand
Roy Kirkman	....	driver: Mr. Mortenson
Stephen Lawrence	....	driver: Mr. Cassel (as Steve Lawrence)
Peter Mercer	....	unit driver
Charles Morris	....	driver: construction
Enyo Mortty	....	driver: Mr. Cronenberg
Randy Nicol	....	facility driver
Lance Palmer	....	driver: marine safety
Nina Ruhkala	....	action vehicles: GK Evolution Ltd.
Colin Simmons	....	driver: Mr. Webster
Chris J. Smith	....	action vehicles: GK Evolution Ltd. (as Chris Smith)
Jim Stephens	....	driver: Ms. Watts
Llewellyn Thomas	....	driver: camera car
Piotr Walczak	....	facility driver (as Peter Walczak)
Jon Wright	....	facility driver captain
Neville Young	....	driver: minibus
Mickey Davie	....	vehicle technician (uncredited)

Other crew
Philip Arditti	....	dialogue advisor: Turkish
Hailu Asfaw	....	chef: Fayre Do's Location Caterers
Benjamin Bailey	....	location assistant
Daren Bailey	....	marine supervisor
Lauren Barnhart	....	assistant: Ms. Watts
Isabel Begg	....	head of legal and business affairs: BBC Films
Bryony Birkbeck	....	assets representative
Heenan Blaikie	....	legal services: Wiggin LLP
Julie Brinkman	....	assistant: Mr. Knight
David Broder	....	key location manager
Clive Broom	....	unit nurse
Daniela Burcea	....	production assistant: Serendipity Point Films
Ruth Caleb	....	producer in development: BBC Films
Cherri Campbell	....	executive assistant: Mr. Lantos
Diarmuid Coghlan	....	assistant accountant
Ian Creed	....	marine coordinator
Catherine Currie	....	post-production accountant: Katmadhu Productions Inc
Josephine Davies	....	assistant: Mr. Webster (as Jo Davies)
Ken Dhaliwal	....	legal services: Wiggin LLP
Dawn Draper	....	catering assistant: Fayre Do's Location Caterers
Robert Ellis	....	location assistant
Prudence Emery	....	unit publicist
Jane Featherstone	....	managing director: Kudos Pictures
Olegar Fedoro	....	dialogue coach: Russian & Ukrainian
Mike Fidduch	....	chef: Fayre Do's Location caterers (as Mike Fiddock)
Ian Ford	....	location assistant
John Furniotis	....	title designer: end credit roll
Susan Furniotis	....	title designer: end credit roll
Matt Gallagher	....	clearance services: The Clearing House
Andrea Gobbatto	....	travel coordinator
Ruth Halliday	....	clearance services: The Clearing House
Dorian Harewood	....	cashier
Esin Harvey	....	dialogue advisor: Turkish
Jane Hawley	....	production executive: BBC Films
Susie Hock	....	legal and business affairs manager: BBC Films
Mick Hurrell	....	health and safety: JHA safe T
Joe Iacono	....	accountant: Weisbord, Del Gaudio, Iacono
Pino Insegno	....	voice dubbing: Viggo Mortensen
Andrew Jack	....	dialogue coach
Scott Jacobson	....	assistant: Mr. Cronenberg and Ms. Seaward
Carlton Jarvis	....	medical advisor
Deepti Khurana	....	legal services: Wiggin LLP
Samantha Knox-Johnston	....	production coordinator
Samuel Leek	....	assistant location manager (as Sam Leek)
Tory Lenosky	....	production runner: pre production
Susanna Lenton	....	script supervisor
Manda Levin	....	development executive: Kudos Pictures
Sarah Lindfield	....	production secretary
Joan Miller	....	finance manager: Kudos Pictures
Deba Mithal	....	head of finance: Kudos Pictures
Charles Moore	....	legal services: Wiggin LLP
Mark Munnelly	....	auditor
Ben Murray	....	production assistant: Serendipity Point Films
Mark Musselman	....	vice president of business and legal affairs: Serendipity Point Films
John Nelles	....	dialogue coach: Tatiana
James Nicholson	....	assistant: Mr. Cassel
Louise O'Malley	....	production accountant
Joe Oppenheimer	....	development producer: BBC Films
Katharine Otway	....	legal services: Wiggin LLP
James Payton	....	stand-in
Billy Pegg	....	location assistant
Mike Phillips	....	co-production compliance
Kevin Proctor	....	key office production assistant
Marcin Ptak	....	catering assistant: Fayre Do's Location Caterers
Gemma Louise Read	....	stand-in (as Gemma Read)
Hallam Rice-Edwards	....	assistant production coordinator: prep
Judy Richter	....	consultant
Carolyn Rohaly	....	assistant: Mr. Cronenberg
Jim Russell	....	legal services: Wiggin LLP
Wendy Saffer	....	marketing and publicity: Serendipity Point Films
Rory Shaw	....	stand-in
Kerry Smith	....	first assistant accountant
Camilla Stephenson	....	location manager
Michelle Taddei	....	assistant: Mr. Lantos, Serendipity Point Films
Aida Tannyan	....	vice president of finance: Serendipity Point Films
Matthew Vizard	....	production and finance coordinator: BBC Films
Jo Wallett	....	assistant production coordinator
Madeleine Wazana	....	post-production accountant: Katmadhu Productions Inc
Amanda Whitis	....	assistant: Mr. Lantos, Serendipity Point Films
Laura Windebank	....	key set production assistant
Roy Gokay Wol	....	dialogue advisor: Turkish
Richard George	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Gareth Lewis	....	set production assistant: dailies (uncredited)
Zoe Liang	....	additional floor runner (uncredited)
Sandrine Loisy	....	set production assistant: dailies (uncredited)
Barney Miller	....	additional floor runner (uncredited)
Callum Heckstall Smith	....	additional floor runner (uncredited)

Thanks
Bradley Adams	....	special thanks
Russell Allen	....	special thanks
Melanie Faulkner	....	special thanks
Simon Johnson	....	special thanks
Alix Lambert	....	special thanks
Sinead Moran	....	special thanks
Kevin O'Shea	....	special thanks
Lisa Parker	....	dedicatee
Stanislav Shvabrin	....	very special thanks
Kitty Stanbrook	....	special thanks
Logan Van Lessen	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Focus Features (presents)
• BBC Films (in association with)
• Astral Media (in association with)
• Corus Entertainment (in association with)
• Téléfilm Canada (in association with) (as Telefilm Canada)
• Kudos Film and Television (as Kudos Pictures)
• Serendipity Point Films
• Scion Films (in association with)

Distributors

• Focus Features (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution (2007) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2007-2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Bazuca Films (2008) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Eagle Pictures (2007) (Italy) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2007) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2007) (Greece) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Films (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Solar Films (2007) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• TOBIS Film (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Blue Sky Media (2007) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• CatchPlay (2008) (Taiwan) (all media)
• D Productions (2007) (Turkey) (all media)
• Discovery Film & Video Distribution (2008) (Croatia) (all media)
• FS Film Oy (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Nikkatsu (2008) (Japan) (all media)
• Paradise Group (2007) (Russia) (all media)
• Pathé Distribution (2007) (UK) (all media)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony BMG Music Entertaintment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Darkside FX (special effects) (as Darkside Ltd.)
• Animated Extras (prosthetics)
• Mr. X (digital visual effects)
• Invisible Pictures (additional visual effects)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance (as AON/Albert G. Ruben)
• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting
• ARRI Media  camera equipment provided by
• Abbey Road Studios  score recorded at
• Animals Okay  animal handlers (as Animals O'Kay)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Clearing House, The  clearance services
• Cuppa Coffee Studios  opening and closing credits
• DeLuxe Toronto  digital intermediate
• Deluxe Post-Production  post-production facilities
• Deluxe Post-Production  sound re-recording
• Efilm  digital intermediate
• Fayre Do's Location Caterers  catering
• Footsteps Post-Production Sound  foley recorded at
• GK Evolution  action vehicles
• Global Music Service  music preparation
• Goldcrest Post Production London  adr recorded at (as Goldcrest Post)
• Hothouse Music  music supervision
• Isobel Griffiths Limited  orchestra contractor
• JHA safe T  health and safety
• Katmadhu Productions  post-production accounting services
• Location Medical Services Ambulance Services  first aid
• Maek-Up  tattoo supplier
• Mediscene  medical effects
• Midnight Transfer  high-definition dailies telecine
• Offline Editing Company, The  editing facilities: UK
• Post Modern Sound  ADR recording facility
• Production Copier Company  production equipment and services
• Sony Classical  soundtrack
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• Tattersall Sound  picture editing facilities
• Tenon Media  UK audit and accountancy
• Translux  facilities and trucks
• Urban Post Production  adr recorded at
• Wavevend Communications  walkie talkies (as Wavevend Radio Communications Ltd.)
• Weisbord Del Gaudio Iacono  accounting services
• Wiggin  legal services

Also Known As:

Promesses de l'ombre (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong brutal and bloody violence, some graphic sexuality, language and nudity.

Runtime:

100 min | Canada:96 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

UK | Canada | USA

Language:

English | Russian | Turkish | Ukrainian | Urdu

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R | UK:18 | Australia:R | Ireland:18 | Canada:14A (Manitoba) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Finland:K-18 | Norway:18 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Taiwan:R-18 | Hong Kong:III | Singapore:M18 | Portugal:M/16 | France:-12 | Sweden:15 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Germany:16 | Italy:VM14 | Brazil:16 | Malaysia:18PL (cut) | Argentina:16 | Israel:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Japan:R-18 | Thailand:PD-14 | Canada:XXX (Nova Scotia) | South Korea:18 | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Broadway Market, Hackney, London, England, UK

Company:

Focus Features

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [David Cronenberg] [Music]Howard Shore score

Goofs:

Continuity: When Nikolai and Semyon are drinking vodka during the diary exchange, Semyon empties his glass, but when he puts it back on the table it is full.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Azim: He says "Christmas." So I say to him,
[in Turkish]
Azim: "Should we go shopping?"
[English]
Azim: The kid's 16. He says, "But uncle, it's Christmas."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Go' aften Danmark: (2007-09-23)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Step Da Step Krugom

Cronenberg and Mortensen deliver in one unmissably solid thriller

When I first saw the trailer for Eastern Promises, I was a little confused. Yes, A History of Violence was a complete turnaround style picture for David Cronenberg (whose previous films include the most twistedly eccentric visions of horrendously graphic violence and overtly over sexualized human beings and monsters), but I had not expected that he would continue down the path of the "independent mainstream". I was a little hesitant to see it at first, but gradually the trailer's imagery drew me in. And now I can say there really is a reason for the Oscar buzz.

There really is no way to perfectly describe Eastern Promises without giving a few juicy details away. It revolves around a Russian crime circuit in London, headed by Semyon (Armin Mueller-Stahl), and includes his son Kirill (Vincent Cassel) and Kirill's driver Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen). Anna (Naomi Watts), a midwife, gets involved within the circuit unknowingly when she attempts to get a diary, recently left by a teenage mother who died during childbirth, translated from Russian into English.

The plot is really not that complicated, but giving a full description ruins the little idiosyncrasies and poignant character moments shared within the film. Oscar-nominee Steve Knight has constructed a gritty, atmospheric thriller that starts up quick and then slows down to a nice steady pace, just so the audience can catch its breath and brood over the workings of the cast. It is dialogue driven, but when it is not being sly or darkly comedic, it plays out like an opera. We gradually learn all the intimate details of every sketchy character, and we get a deeper sense of just how bad some of these characters are. It is not just a paint-by-numbers depiction of bad men, it is a highly detailed and clearly articulate character study. And even at its dullest moments, it works excellently.

Kudos also goes to Cronenberg's go to cinematographer, Peter Suschitsky. London and its drab and depressing climate are beautifully represented here from the first frame, all the way up to the last. Even when the sun is out, the sets have a certain subdued haze over them. We are watching a film about the criminal underbelly, and its settings help reflected just how low these people are in their moral standings. It works greatly in favour of the film, and it almost works as a character in itself. The drab, almost noir, settings help achieve the dirty politics of the film, and they help explore the character studies even further. Whether it's the scariness of watching Mortensen in the dark, or just looking at the glare of Mueller-Stahl in his dimmed restaurant, all of the details have been amped up on each set to give the audience a greater sense of understanding and purpose, for just about every character.

And what Cronenberg film would be without some bizarrely violent visuals? While not exactly a bloodbath, Cronenberg does have a few moments where he paints the screen a bright shade of scarlet red. And when it begins to flow, there is nothing that can really stop it. It works much in the same way as it did in Violence, in that the film builds to a scene loaded with it and just lets loose in a ferocious manner unlike any well-known director currently working in the mainstream on movies that are not specifically horror (with obvious exceptions to Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez). It has that Cronenbergian touch, and much like his other films, its style is impeccable and thought-provoking.

Another fantastic element is the score by Howard Shore. It slows when it needs to, and it quickens even faster. It plays out wonderfully throughout the scenes, and gives them a sort of classy feel. I realize I used the opera description before, but it fits even better here. Its great workings underpin every scene, and help dictate just how well off the film is.

What hurts the film (besides some very bizarre choices by Watts' character) is the denouement. It works, but I just cannot fathom how neither Knight nor Cronenberg thought it was appropriate for the story that was taking place. It just does not have the solid impact that every other scene either has, or builds to. I sat, almost dumbfounded, trying to figure out who thought it was a good idea, and why no one told them to re-write it. But I will say, much like Violence, Promises has an absolutely stunning final moment. But to get to that astounding moment, you have to sit through a rather disappointing finale.

If you thought you had seen Mortensen's best work before Promises, then you will be in for a very big surprise. His cold and calculating performance as Nikolai is the stuff that creates legends. He is menacing from the word go, and even as the enigmatic slowly becomes the well-known, you will just stare in fear and awe as he speaks on screen. From the terrifying tattoos, to a small character moment where he puts out a cigarette on his tongue, Mortensen is the quintessential image of evil. His unrestrained anger is felt throughout the film, and hopefully, will be just the right performance to launch him into the stratosphere of Oscar-nominated actors. Even during the let-down of an ending, he keeps up, and never lets anyone down.

The rest of the cast, albeit nowhere near as strong as Mortensen, are all very good supporting characters. Watts' character may have issues, but she breathes a certain life into the naïve character that I doubt many others could match. Much the same goes for Cassel and Mueller-Stahl, who bring just the right amount of intensity to their roles.

Although it is flawed, Cronenberg has delivered yet another exceptional thriller. It will surely be recognized at Oscar time, and for good reason too. Do not miss it.

8.5/10.