Promises (2001)

Several Jewish and Palestinian children are followed for three years and put in touch with each other, in this alternative look at the Jewish-Palestinian conflict. The three filmmakers ... See full summary »

Directors:

B.Z. Goldberg, Justine Shapiro

Writers:

B.Z. Goldberg, Stephen Most (consulting writer)

Stars:

Moishe Bar Am, B.Z. Goldberg, Shlomo Green

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 15 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Moishe Bar Am	...	Himself
B.Z. Goldberg	...	Himself
Shlomo Green	...	Himself (as Schlomo)
Sanabel Hassan	...	Herself
Faraj Adnan Hassan Husein	...	Himself
Mahmoud Mazen Mahmoud Izhiman	...	Himself
Daniel Solan	...	Himself
Yarko Solan	...	Himself

Storyline

Several Jewish and Palestinian children are followed for three years and put in touch with each other, in this alternative look at the Jewish-Palestinian conflict. The three filmmakers followed a group of seven local children between 1995 and 1998. They all have a totally different background. These seven children tell their own story about growing up in Jerusalem. Through this portrait of their generation, we see how deep rooted and almost insoluble the problems of the Middle East have become. When the protagonists speak out in an epilogue a couple of years later, it becomes apparent that all have lost their childlike innocence.

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Plot Keywords:

children | palestinian | child | boy | israel | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Official Sites:

PBS [United States] Promises Project [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Arabic Hebrew

Release Date:

20 December 2001 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Promesas

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,138, 17 March 2002, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$243,769, 15 December 2002

Company Credits

Production Co:

Promises Film Project

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

User Reviews

Emotional

I saw this film at the International Film Festival in Rotterdam in 2001(and it is still fresh in my mind). It was its première. At the end of that festival the film won the public award. It is now showing in cinemas here in Amsterdam and anyone should go and see it. Without showing any judgment the film show the reality of the Middle-East conflict through the eyes of the children. And the children make the film because they are open to new experiences and are willing to try new things. The film says that any hope for any peace in that region will come if children will meet on a regular basis. It also says clearly that the danger lies in the extremists from both side and it seems that both side have their fair share of extremists children who are growing with hate towards the other side.

Let hope that everyone there will wake up soon and will go and see this film and maybe than everyone will realize that hate doesn't lead to anywhere and children are the hope for the future as long as they don't grow up hating anyone.