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

Very promising

I only saw the second part of the movie, but that gave me enough impression to leave me in a state of "having seen something everyone should see". And I think everyone and most of all Israelis and Arabs will agree that a way to peace will only be possible when encounters like these will take place, where kids from both "sides" will meet each other to discuss and understand each other problems. I am so much impressed about the openess, sincerity, wisdom and "the stuff that separates the youth from the adults": playing a soccer game, making fun, sharing dreams. It's hard to see that two years after the meeting the Arab boy has almost lost his belief in a solution. A while ago I heard an interview on the radio with the famous Jewish military expert Martin von Kreefeld. This interview impressed me as much as "Promises", but in a very different way. To Von Kreefelds opinion, the only solution to the Jewish-Arab problem was building a high wall, deviding the two nations, probably at cost of some 30,000 lives. But then, so Von Kreefeld, there would finally be "peace". Well, let's just hope future generations from Israel and Palestine will proove him wrong. The documentary is filmed at high speed and will grasp your attention immediately, and will not let loose. Very impressing, very... moving ;-)