Some of the reviewers obviously based their rating on their personal political stance. There is a reason that this time period and the events covered in this series are very seldom the topic of film or television. Inevitably it makes the Jews look bad. After all, it was the Jews that were invading. The Arabs were defending their homes. This is not a popular subject these days. All credit to the producers and staff of this series for their courageous efforts. Having gotten that out of the way, the series held my interest, entertained me, and motivated me to further research on the time and place dealt with. In my view, this makes it worthy of praise no matter how many people try to discredit it and lower the viewer rating.
32 Reviews
Enjoyable
Edinman13 March 2011
I had a personal interest in this for two reasons. My father served with the paras in Palestine (having joined up to fight the Germans) and I've had a long-term interest in what is now known as the 'IP' question. I have to say I was engrossed by the whole series, although there a few dramatic devices which were verging on the unbelievable. It might have worked better as a drama for those who knew absolutely nothing about the situation, in either era. I probably spent too much time worrying about the politics. My sympathies have always lain with the Palestinian side, and there were bits of it I thought were good for setting out a side to Israel that isn't always seen (eg the attitude of the settlers to the indigenous population, which I suspect are an embarrassment to many Israelis). However, although I know where I stand, I wouldn't want to watch anything which contained too much simple propaganda. I think The Promise did achieve a level of balance, sometimes to the detriment of the drama (eg the King David Hotel incident being followed by a suicide bomber). The perception has been is that The Promise was more pro Arab than Israeli, but I can guarantee that no-one with strong views and a knowledge of the history would be particularly satisfied with the politics. For instance, all the main characters were either Brits or Jews, the Arabs were walk-on one dimensional characters. I think it can best be regarded as a drama set in turbulent times, and not as a drama documentary - there is simply too much history to cover to do anything else. I realise it was a dramatic device but poor Len seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time throughout. To put in context, the British had about 100,000 troops in Palestine from 46 to 48, and lost 234 (ish). Not a small figure, but less than you would think from watching The Promise where every other Jew appeared to be a member of the Irgun (which was just one of a number of Jewish organisations). And the 100,000 weren't all Paras... As others have mentioned, why didn't Erin just read the whole diary at once!! Anyway, I elected not to include spoilers so I'll remain silent on various bits which annoyed me along the 'that didn't happen' and 'that couldn't happen' lines. But overall, I did actually enjoy it. Worth watching.
Ambitious try
hiskih3 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers
The British period in Palestine is a fascinating topic that I have never before seen treated in films or TV. Unfortunately, Mr. Kosminsky saw fit to include a modern parallel story, set in 2005. The modern story is unbelievable to the point of absurdity, and offers nothing we haven't seen before. Also, it takes too much time from the more interesting 1940s story, leaving the characters too thin for this length.
Politically, the series is anything but neutral. Arabs are presented as noble, innocent victims of Jewish land theft and terror (in both stories) and British bullying. The British are shown as benevolent rulers, if occasionally brutish. The Jews of the 1940s, sympathetic-looking at first, all turn out to be evil Irgun fanatics whose cruelty and heartlessness has no limits. I know the atrocities depicted are historical (although it is impossible for our hero Len to witness all of them, especially Deir Yassin) but why aren't we shown any Arab wrongdoing at all? The modern story does have a couple of nice Jews - those with leftist views and Palestinian friends.
The actors are good, but Len is too soulful for a hardened WWII veteran - he spends the whole of episode 4 almost bursting in tears. In real life, he would have been court-martialed or at least transferred much earlier, after telling his captain that he revealed the information that got two of his mates murdered.
Both the 1940s and 2005 British protagonists end up participating actively in the conflict, on the Arab side of course. This is a spoiler but definitely not a surprise to the viewer.
Politically, the series is anything but neutral. Arabs are presented as noble, innocent victims of Jewish land theft and terror (in both stories) and British bullying. The British are shown as benevolent rulers, if occasionally brutish. The Jews of the 1940s, sympathetic-looking at first, all turn out to be evil Irgun fanatics whose cruelty and heartlessness has no limits. I know the atrocities depicted are historical (although it is impossible for our hero Len to witness all of them, especially Deir Yassin) but why aren't we shown any Arab wrongdoing at all? The modern story does have a couple of nice Jews - those with leftist views and Palestinian friends.
The actors are good, but Len is too soulful for a hardened WWII veteran - he spends the whole of episode 4 almost bursting in tears. In real life, he would have been court-martialed or at least transferred much earlier, after telling his captain that he revealed the information that got two of his mates murdered.
Both the 1940s and 2005 British protagonists end up participating actively in the conflict, on the Arab side of course. This is a spoiler but definitely not a surprise to the viewer.
Very hard to find a middle ground in Isreal/Palestein without demonising someone, yet this film series managed to do it.
jontic6 March 2011
A great piece of intelligent television. Biased? Didn't seem to spare anyone. Pretty much every group was shown acting horrendously, but also how much of those actions arose/arise from the context, and were compelling and difficult to avoid. Palestinians, British, the Isrealis, none demonised despite the awful things they all did and do, and as such it was really a remarkable feat. It is very hard to find that middle ground, (and that is also the problem for those in Isreal who want peace too). Great performances from Christian Cooke and Clare Foy. Clare in particular played the not terribly likable ingénue with distinction and subtlety. It isn't Hollywood, not evil v good, no heroes and no villains. The violence is shown as solving nothing and just leads to more vile acts of attrition. The story that holds it together has some artificiality, but does manage to run the two threads, 1947-8 and 2010 together very well.
Kosminsky fulfils his Promise
kimdino-127 February 2011
I have a thing about miniseries as much more can be put into 6-8hrs that can be packed into the 2hrs of a feature length story. IMO almost all of televisions greatest works are in mini-series such as 'Boys from the Black Stuff', Traffic' & 'Edge of Darkness'. Alan Bleasdale has always been the master of this format but, with 'The Promise', Peter Kosminsky joins him at the top. All 8hrs is used to maximum effect.
'The Promise' shows how Israel was born in violence & how the violence is maintained in the present day. Around this Kosminsky has drawn a gripping storyline of the granddaughter of a soldier in the British Protectorate searching out the mystery of her grandfathers story. Thus Erin, the granddaughter travels modern Israel while her grandfathers story shows late '40s Palestine & the birth of Israel.
Kosminsky has been accused of taking an anti-Jewish stance with this series but I cannot agree with this. The British & Israeli forces are everywhere and very prominent while the modern Palestinian terrorist is a small minority. This is how Kosminsky shows it and I believe that to have given more prominence to the Palestinian violence would have introduced a pro-Israeli bias.
I do not give 10/10 lightly but 'The Promise' has earnt it as absolute top quality viewing.
'The Promise' shows how Israel was born in violence & how the violence is maintained in the present day. Around this Kosminsky has drawn a gripping storyline of the granddaughter of a soldier in the British Protectorate searching out the mystery of her grandfathers story. Thus Erin, the granddaughter travels modern Israel while her grandfathers story shows late '40s Palestine & the birth of Israel.
Kosminsky has been accused of taking an anti-Jewish stance with this series but I cannot agree with this. The British & Israeli forces are everywhere and very prominent while the modern Palestinian terrorist is a small minority. This is how Kosminsky shows it and I believe that to have given more prominence to the Palestinian violence would have introduced a pro-Israeli bias.
I do not give 10/10 lightly but 'The Promise' has earnt it as absolute top quality viewing.
Astonishing !
yoahmed4001 May 2013
Astonishing is all I can say, I fail to find the words to describe this piece of work. Maybe being an Arab who's heart breaks in two every time he hears about his neighboring country and how they were left helpless to struggle and still are effects me more, maybe thats why the movie got to me so deeply. I wouldn't want to take the credit off the producer nor the cast or anyone who participated in this magnificent work good job. This is a must see series. People (ofcourse I know which sort of people) will start to take us into the small details of events and how the IDF does that and doesn't do that, I believe the picture is clear for those who have hearts and minds to see with.
Outstanding piece of history
dimadamen4 March 2011
For a person who has been to the places that Kosminsky had shot, this piece of work is certainly worth the praise and had pushed me to write my first review on IMDb.
This outstanding piece of work, especially in photography and editing, indeed moves different audiences. The analogy between the past and the presence presents a different approach to seeing the Palestinian cause, especially from a foreigner's point of view.
The director is first a true historian, then a talented artist and finally an outstanding director. I sent this series to all of my family and friends as a must-watch.
This outstanding piece of work, especially in photography and editing, indeed moves different audiences. The analogy between the past and the presence presents a different approach to seeing the Palestinian cause, especially from a foreigner's point of view.
The director is first a true historian, then a talented artist and finally an outstanding director. I sent this series to all of my family and friends as a must-watch.
Great Piece of Intelligent TV
samirakel18 April 2013
I come from Palestine, when I started watching this mini-series, I was mentally prepared for the common western biased production of The Palestine cause, I am surprised at the end, that this was not only unbiased to any party, but also, shed more in my conscious on the British position, the Jews misery in Germany and later their perspective to occupy our lands and renaming our country. The drama was great, not a common Hollywood Bad Guys Vs.Good Guys BS. It gave me an urge to watch again and again and show it to my parents, relatives who are all refugees, a great and intelligent production, I strongly recommend it to anyone. If I was not Palestinian, or involved in this story, I still find a great story line, intelligent script and acting.
Understanding Britain's role in Palestine in the mid-1940s
histfict15 February 2015
This mini series has a great plot. The parallel stories of Erin and Len Matthews are told in a really convincing way, with enlightening comparisons between the situation of Israel in 1946-1948 and today. I personally did not know much about the role of the British army in the couple of years prior to the creation of the State of Israel, and so I found Len's journey particularly interesting. The film is very didactic and is thus accessible to people who are not too familiar with the roots of the Israel-Palestine conflict. My only disappointment was the way Erin's character turns into a caricature in episodes 3 to 4. Her stubbornness and lack of respect for the lives of others make her really irritating. She puts other peoples' lives at risk multiple times and her behaviour is so reckless, despite her rather hazy motives, that it becomes unbelievable at times. Other than that, a very enjoyable series.
Engrossing drama of an ignored period of history
johnbirch-224 August 2017
The only thing I ever learnt about this period was from my RE teacher at school (well, we called it "Divinity" - it was that sort of school) who served in Palestine and missed the King David Hotel bomb by chance, and by minutes. Other than that... nothing. Even for the "small wars" of the British Empire, this is one of the most silent. Some hundreds of British troops died - and we know nothing about it.
What is more the Israel/Palestine dispute is on TV News all the time, even though 99% of us no absolutely nothing about the background.
Its interesting that there are disputes about its historical accuracy. Leaving aside the fact it is a drama, it does seem to be remarkably accurate. While watching it I was constantly checking - and the events this is based on actually happened.
Compelling, moving, educational, and yes controversial. But unmissable.
What is more the Israel/Palestine dispute is on TV News all the time, even though 99% of us no absolutely nothing about the background.
Its interesting that there are disputes about its historical accuracy. Leaving aside the fact it is a drama, it does seem to be remarkably accurate. While watching it I was constantly checking - and the events this is based on actually happened.
Compelling, moving, educational, and yes controversial. But unmissable.
Decent but flawed
Cmbh5 March 2011
I very much enjoyed parts of the Promise, but thought a great deal of it was basically crap.
The immediate post war aftermath in Palestine is a very good setting for a film/TV series and is a little known period in history for the general public. I thought the story set there was very compelling, with a good protagonist and remained balanced until the final episode.
In contrast the framing device of the girl reading her grandfather's diary was poorly constructed and meant we had to spend far too much time in the company of a girl whose only expression was a sullen pout. At times this became absolutely ludicrous, like her reason for wanting to visit Hebron 'to see how her grandfather's story turned out'. It's not that big a diary, unless you are the world's slowest reader you could read it cover to cover in a few hours. It was also a far less balanced story, with characters presenting as fact only one side of deeply controversial issues. Take the security barrier, condemned as useless for security reasons, and yet suicide bombings plummeted after its construction.
Talking about bias, we then come to the final episode, which presented the start of the arab-israeli war of 1948 as purely of poor helpless Arabs being slaughtered by Israelis. Both sides committed atrocities against civilians in the build up to the war and the war itself saw 2,400 Jewish civilians lose their lives. A far more interesting story might how a militia of only 30,000 Jews (at the start of the war) held back the armies of the Arab world.
In conclusion a good historical drama let down by its bias and framing device.
The immediate post war aftermath in Palestine is a very good setting for a film/TV series and is a little known period in history for the general public. I thought the story set there was very compelling, with a good protagonist and remained balanced until the final episode.
In contrast the framing device of the girl reading her grandfather's diary was poorly constructed and meant we had to spend far too much time in the company of a girl whose only expression was a sullen pout. At times this became absolutely ludicrous, like her reason for wanting to visit Hebron 'to see how her grandfather's story turned out'. It's not that big a diary, unless you are the world's slowest reader you could read it cover to cover in a few hours. It was also a far less balanced story, with characters presenting as fact only one side of deeply controversial issues. Take the security barrier, condemned as useless for security reasons, and yet suicide bombings plummeted after its construction.
Talking about bias, we then come to the final episode, which presented the start of the arab-israeli war of 1948 as purely of poor helpless Arabs being slaughtered by Israelis. Both sides committed atrocities against civilians in the build up to the war and the war itself saw 2,400 Jewish civilians lose their lives. A far more interesting story might how a militia of only 30,000 Jews (at the start of the war) held back the armies of the Arab world.
In conclusion a good historical drama let down by its bias and framing device.
Most important drama of the decade
mjohnson-5992721 September 2017
My wife recently downloaded this as a box set and watching it again reconfirms my belief that this is the most important television drama of the decade.
Inevitably given its subject, there are bound to be those who do not agree with or accept its premise, the plot, the direction, the acting etc etc.
They are simply wrong and angry that it does not confirm their own preconceptions rather than judging it on its merits.
It is an interpretation of events from one point of view and there could and should be others. It is nonetheless gut wrenchingly effective, emotionally compelling, well scripted, brilliantly acted and directed.
So much TV drama in recent years is anodyne, politically neutered, action packed hokum or crime led escapism. This is the antidote, challenging and compelling.
The Promise is a remarkable and memorable work of art that happens to be television drama. Nothing is ever perfect and there is a clear directorial stance (or bias, if you prefer) but it has huge ambition and succeeds triumphantly on its own terms while carrying a mighty punch.
Find it, watch it and decide for yourself.
Inevitably given its subject, there are bound to be those who do not agree with or accept its premise, the plot, the direction, the acting etc etc.
They are simply wrong and angry that it does not confirm their own preconceptions rather than judging it on its merits.
It is an interpretation of events from one point of view and there could and should be others. It is nonetheless gut wrenchingly effective, emotionally compelling, well scripted, brilliantly acted and directed.
So much TV drama in recent years is anodyne, politically neutered, action packed hokum or crime led escapism. This is the antidote, challenging and compelling.
The Promise is a remarkable and memorable work of art that happens to be television drama. Nothing is ever perfect and there is a clear directorial stance (or bias, if you prefer) but it has huge ambition and succeeds triumphantly on its own terms while carrying a mighty punch.
Find it, watch it and decide for yourself.
Strange view of the situation.
stounedi14 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I have lived for a longish time in the Israel, but I am not Jewish or arab. Even though the reason I was in the area was actually that I'm so interested in history.
There are so many points in this mini-series that I ponder about. The biggest one before watching the series was if this was yet another pro- zionist or pro-jihadist series.
Well. I got my answer. The other questions I came up while and after watching it.
1. Why do they comment the wall on west bank as "disgusting" but fail to mention how much bombings & suicide attacks against Israel have decreased after it was built?
2. I do agree that Irgun and Jewish attacks against British government were acts of terrorism, but still the series brings the happenings out of proportions: "Oh my, the Irgun did a few bombings, so they're more evil than jihad terrorists that have made hundreds of such attacks, and not just against military but in fact mostly civilian targets". If you're military, you might be a target. But if you're civilian, any civilized soldier will leave you alone.
3. Lots of small things. Blackpainting of Jewish civilians (the counter- protest part), IDF soldiers who seem like Nazis (contrary to my own personal experiences), taking comments about forcing arabs to move contrary to the reality, arabs were told and encouraged to stay in their homes, etc.
I have been personally to / close the locations where the modern day events take place. This did bring me back a lot of memories. I've seen conflicts similar to what the series described, but both sides were throwing rocks, palestines threw even bottles and molotov coctails until IDF came in and the ran away. It ain't as black & white as the series shows. It tries to show Jewish and IDF as evil Nazis. Unfortunately.
The series had its potential, lost by a very one-sided view.
There are so many points in this mini-series that I ponder about. The biggest one before watching the series was if this was yet another pro- zionist or pro-jihadist series.
Well. I got my answer. The other questions I came up while and after watching it.
1. Why do they comment the wall on west bank as "disgusting" but fail to mention how much bombings & suicide attacks against Israel have decreased after it was built?
2. I do agree that Irgun and Jewish attacks against British government were acts of terrorism, but still the series brings the happenings out of proportions: "Oh my, the Irgun did a few bombings, so they're more evil than jihad terrorists that have made hundreds of such attacks, and not just against military but in fact mostly civilian targets". If you're military, you might be a target. But if you're civilian, any civilized soldier will leave you alone.
3. Lots of small things. Blackpainting of Jewish civilians (the counter- protest part), IDF soldiers who seem like Nazis (contrary to my own personal experiences), taking comments about forcing arabs to move contrary to the reality, arabs were told and encouraged to stay in their homes, etc.
I have been personally to / close the locations where the modern day events take place. This did bring me back a lot of memories. I've seen conflicts similar to what the series described, but both sides were throwing rocks, palestines threw even bottles and molotov coctails until IDF came in and the ran away. It ain't as black & white as the series shows. It tries to show Jewish and IDF as evil Nazis. Unfortunately.
The series had its potential, lost by a very one-sided view.
Superb tyranny of the past on the present
Dr_Coulardeau4 March 2011
Warning: Spoilers
A long mini series like this one, four episodes of eighty-eight minutes each, enables the director to explore his subject in full detail. His subject is Palestine from 1945, and a little before with the concentration camps and their liberation in the background though that episode is in Europe, to today, right now today with the case of Gaza and the Wall. The story is built around the diary of a British soldier who was there from 1945 to 1948. The man is in hospital dying and his grand daughter discovers his diary and decides to go with her best friend to Israel for the vacation. Her best friend is an Israeli citizen and has to do her military service during her vacation. The girl tries to find the Palestinian friends of her grand father to give them back a key she has found in the diary and she is reading the diary at the same time, so that we jump from the past to the present and vice versa constantly.
But the interest of the film is not that dramatic, slightly sentimental line of approach. It is the pretext to take us everywhere in Israel and around and to witness what the Israeli soldiers are doing to the Palestinians today, the light resistance among Israelis against the war, and the way Israelis literally victimize the Palestinians to force them to leave so that Jewish settlers can take their place. The Israeli army is there to protect the settlers not to keep the peace and so let that victimization go on.
Then the parallel with what the Jewish nationalists did in 45-48 from wild bombing against the British army to the violence against the Palestinians and to the genocidal cleansing of some areas when they took over after the UN decision. Nothing has changed as for that: their objective is to re-conquer the whole Holy Land and nothing else because it was promised to them by God himself. And that promise is the backbone of the film.
The backbone because the film builds a parallel between what happened to the Jews in Europe under Hitler, the terrorism against the British and then the Palestinians from the Jews in Palestine up to 1948 and finally to what they are doing to the Palestinians today, killing blindly when necessary, chasing the Palestinians in the streets in Israel where they still are, and invading and destroying houses in Palestinian territories in the name of their fight against terrorism.
Terrorism is the main word of this drama. Hitler was a genocidal terrorist, but then the Jewish terrorists of 45-48, and the Israeli terrorists today who act in military uniforms against the Palestinians they call terrorists are seen as being just as brutal and inhumane as Hitler. You can see the idea that comes up from this constant parallel built into the series by the older period and the present alternating all the time and by the language and the situations that are so similar. And that conclusion, that hypothesis are absolutely unbearable. And yet no logical mind can avoid coming to it.
Yet facts and events are there to prove we are not insane. So what solution can there be? The film does not say anything about the future that looks bleak for the Palestinians on the brink of being completely eradicated from Palestine and the constant war that makes the Israeli state a military state governed by retired generals.
The only possible future is one state with all creeds and religions but this reunification of Palestine as a multi-confessional but secular state is just a dream. A dream, you said? When the military autocratic Arab states are falling like ripe fruits in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and military states of emergency are finally disbanded little by little in Algeria and even in Iraq, which is not an Arab state even if it is a Moslem country, we can wonder why Israel should remain the last one to be governed by generals, even retired, and living in a constant state of war against some fictitious and manipulated terrorist menace.
But everyone is going to tell me Palestine is not ready for a re-unified state. And I will conclude that there is absolutely no reason why Germany could be reunited, Vietnam could be reunited, South Africa could be racially reunited, and yet Palestine could not be. That is absurd and history hates absurdity. So time will be what time will bring and que sera que sera. I will see it before dying.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
But the interest of the film is not that dramatic, slightly sentimental line of approach. It is the pretext to take us everywhere in Israel and around and to witness what the Israeli soldiers are doing to the Palestinians today, the light resistance among Israelis against the war, and the way Israelis literally victimize the Palestinians to force them to leave so that Jewish settlers can take their place. The Israeli army is there to protect the settlers not to keep the peace and so let that victimization go on.
Then the parallel with what the Jewish nationalists did in 45-48 from wild bombing against the British army to the violence against the Palestinians and to the genocidal cleansing of some areas when they took over after the UN decision. Nothing has changed as for that: their objective is to re-conquer the whole Holy Land and nothing else because it was promised to them by God himself. And that promise is the backbone of the film.
The backbone because the film builds a parallel between what happened to the Jews in Europe under Hitler, the terrorism against the British and then the Palestinians from the Jews in Palestine up to 1948 and finally to what they are doing to the Palestinians today, killing blindly when necessary, chasing the Palestinians in the streets in Israel where they still are, and invading and destroying houses in Palestinian territories in the name of their fight against terrorism.
Terrorism is the main word of this drama. Hitler was a genocidal terrorist, but then the Jewish terrorists of 45-48, and the Israeli terrorists today who act in military uniforms against the Palestinians they call terrorists are seen as being just as brutal and inhumane as Hitler. You can see the idea that comes up from this constant parallel built into the series by the older period and the present alternating all the time and by the language and the situations that are so similar. And that conclusion, that hypothesis are absolutely unbearable. And yet no logical mind can avoid coming to it.
Yet facts and events are there to prove we are not insane. So what solution can there be? The film does not say anything about the future that looks bleak for the Palestinians on the brink of being completely eradicated from Palestine and the constant war that makes the Israeli state a military state governed by retired generals.
The only possible future is one state with all creeds and religions but this reunification of Palestine as a multi-confessional but secular state is just a dream. A dream, you said? When the military autocratic Arab states are falling like ripe fruits in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and military states of emergency are finally disbanded little by little in Algeria and even in Iraq, which is not an Arab state even if it is a Moslem country, we can wonder why Israel should remain the last one to be governed by generals, even retired, and living in a constant state of war against some fictitious and manipulated terrorist menace.
But everyone is going to tell me Palestine is not ready for a re-unified state. And I will conclude that there is absolutely no reason why Germany could be reunited, Vietnam could be reunited, South Africa could be racially reunited, and yet Palestine could not be. That is absurd and history hates absurdity. So time will be what time will bring and que sera que sera. I will see it before dying.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
Must watch for beginners on the topic
Dundon-28-1696912 February 2019
Very well researched piece of tv that seems to be very reflective of what actually happened. I'm guessing Israelis will be fighting the narrative here but the truth hurts. Things have got way worse for the Palestinians. Free Palestine.
Compelling Story; Historically fascinating
pensman27 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Most Americans are most likely unfamiliar with the creation of Israel after WW II. This series offers some historical perspective to what is usually seen as a single point of view: Jewish refugees trying to establish a homeland after surviving the Nazi death camps (the good); the Arabs (Palestinians) trying to keep them out (the bad); and the British troops trying to maintain a tenuous peace (the ugly). As usual, the real story is various shades of grey. This series is presented somewhat through the eyes of Erin Matthews, a twenty year old who is spending part of her gap year--year between finishing what we think of as high school and starting college--with her friend Eliza who is a British Jew who returns to Israel to begin her national service. Erin discovers before leaving England her grandfather's diary which tells his story as a sergeant in the British army serving in Palestine during the 1940's. The story moves back and forth between the story of her grandfather, Len Matthews, and her experiences in Israel as she reads and tries to follow through on his story as related in the diary. In this telling it is made clear that the Jewish refugees are intent on creating a homeland regardless of the cost in life to the Palestinians or British troops. As a result, Len Matthews who began his service in sympathy with the Jews finds his feelings change as a result of his experiences. And Erin also finds that in the present day the assumptions she has been brought up with are now being challenged by experience.
I personally found Len's story quite compelling and in part due to the fine acting of Christian Cooke as Len; and while Erin's story is also arresting, Claire Foy's Erin is a somewhat irritating and an unsympathetic character. Almost obnoxious. However, the large cast does an excellent job and there is no way you can watch one segment of the series and not feel compelled to watch the subsequent episodes.
While I find the story well balanced in trying to show the larger picture, I am sure some will be upset to find that the Israelis are not depicted as the completely good guy underdogs of history. But if you want a better understanding of the current unrest in the Middle East then this is both an entreating and illuminating series.
I personally found Len's story quite compelling and in part due to the fine acting of Christian Cooke as Len; and while Erin's story is also arresting, Claire Foy's Erin is a somewhat irritating and an unsympathetic character. Almost obnoxious. However, the large cast does an excellent job and there is no way you can watch one segment of the series and not feel compelled to watch the subsequent episodes.
While I find the story well balanced in trying to show the larger picture, I am sure some will be upset to find that the Israelis are not depicted as the completely good guy underdogs of history. But if you want a better understanding of the current unrest in the Middle East then this is both an entreating and illuminating series.
Uncomfortable truths
manutheteacher4 August 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I really liked the two stories of this series, if only because the past one is an almost forgotten piece of history in terms of films and TV series whereas the present story is told in a quite unbiased line; at least, as much unbiased as any story dealing with such conflict can be.
While I write this review, Israel is striking Gaza with their planes, ships and artillery while Gaza is striking Israel with their rockets. It is very difficult to adopt an objective point of view of the conflict; once you get into it, you always have a tendency to lean towards one side or the other. "The Promise" criticises present-day Israeli policies in the occupied territories as well as the old days terrorist actions of the Irgun (a Jewish terrorist group), but it also creates good Israeli characters and others full of inner contradictions and moral conflicts. The Palestinian side goes cleverly untouched, with only a couple of characters with some meaning in the story. So, as a whole, I don't think it's biased at all. It just tells some uncomfortable truths.
There are several striking similarities between the times of the Mandate and present-day Palestine. To begin with, Israelis achieved independence thanks to terrorism, something that Palestinians are now somehow imitating. You can choose to call them "freedom fighters" or "terrorists", but you'll have to choose the same term for both, and this is an uncomfortable truth. Other examples which have a very clear resemblance with present days Palestine resistance: Irgun kidnapping soldiers or hiding weapons in schools. All that part of the story has been forgotten for such a long time that, once rediscovered, one needs to review and update his former ideas about the conflict.
Now, about the differences. The British Mandate is portrayed as a peace-keeper force supported by international law, whereas Israel in the occupied territories are portrayed as a brutal force acting against all international laws. However uncomfortable they might be, these differences are essentially true, uncomfortable truths once again. The Nakba ethnic cleansing (recently admitted and explored by Israeli historians), the suicide bombers, the deep division among the Palestinian ranks, the wall dividing Palestinian populations, the illegal settlements in the occupied territories, the underlying racism of Israeli society... all of them uncomfortable truths. Even the British abandoning the land even knowing of the massacres that were about to happen (it reminded me of the Dutch in Srebrenica). No one is left untouched in "The Promise".
By the way, to conclude, what I liked the most was the extremely beautiful parallelism between the broken promise of the protagonist (Len) to protect the Arab child and the broken promise of the British troops to protect the Arab population. I somehow think that Len's tears at the end of the film were even more related to that second broken promise than to the first. A beautiful moment, I must admit.
While I write this review, Israel is striking Gaza with their planes, ships and artillery while Gaza is striking Israel with their rockets. It is very difficult to adopt an objective point of view of the conflict; once you get into it, you always have a tendency to lean towards one side or the other. "The Promise" criticises present-day Israeli policies in the occupied territories as well as the old days terrorist actions of the Irgun (a Jewish terrorist group), but it also creates good Israeli characters and others full of inner contradictions and moral conflicts. The Palestinian side goes cleverly untouched, with only a couple of characters with some meaning in the story. So, as a whole, I don't think it's biased at all. It just tells some uncomfortable truths.
There are several striking similarities between the times of the Mandate and present-day Palestine. To begin with, Israelis achieved independence thanks to terrorism, something that Palestinians are now somehow imitating. You can choose to call them "freedom fighters" or "terrorists", but you'll have to choose the same term for both, and this is an uncomfortable truth. Other examples which have a very clear resemblance with present days Palestine resistance: Irgun kidnapping soldiers or hiding weapons in schools. All that part of the story has been forgotten for such a long time that, once rediscovered, one needs to review and update his former ideas about the conflict.
Now, about the differences. The British Mandate is portrayed as a peace-keeper force supported by international law, whereas Israel in the occupied territories are portrayed as a brutal force acting against all international laws. However uncomfortable they might be, these differences are essentially true, uncomfortable truths once again. The Nakba ethnic cleansing (recently admitted and explored by Israeli historians), the suicide bombers, the deep division among the Palestinian ranks, the wall dividing Palestinian populations, the illegal settlements in the occupied territories, the underlying racism of Israeli society... all of them uncomfortable truths. Even the British abandoning the land even knowing of the massacres that were about to happen (it reminded me of the Dutch in Srebrenica). No one is left untouched in "The Promise".
By the way, to conclude, what I liked the most was the extremely beautiful parallelism between the broken promise of the protagonist (Len) to protect the Arab child and the broken promise of the British troops to protect the Arab population. I somehow think that Len's tears at the end of the film were even more related to that second broken promise than to the first. A beautiful moment, I must admit.
Quite outstanding
fieryangel229 July 2022
To film this in the heart of Palestine / Israel was an extraordinary feat . Nothing is spared but the brutal truth of a much wronged people left once again by a U. K. " peacekeeping " force to be butchered and annexed . Afghanistan reminds us we still haven't changed . What shocked me was to learn Terrorism was initiated by the immigrant Jewish fanatics not the indigenous Arabs , who 70 years later are still terrorised and beaten down. It's not polemical though . A powerful story observes history without comment as people struggle to coexist . Beautifully made , acted and shot . Thrilling.
Most will learn a lot...
buiger4 August 2013
Very good, finally a fairly balanced attempt at depicting the middle- eastern problem. I very much appreciated the fact that the movie tried to remain rather unbiased (except toward the end, where it went a little over the top with showing the brutality of the IDF and excessively victimizing the Palestinians). The two story lines make it possible to show at the same time both the current situation as well as the original creation of the problem, its roots. Great idea!
All in all, some good acting, good cinematography and decent, clear dialog (especially for a made-for-TV flick). If anything is lacking its a good musical score, but it doesn't take away much from the movie. I can only recommend this movie to all. Most will learn a lot by watching it, and it will make many think again about the preconceptions they have about this issue, mostly due to ignorance and misinformation in the media.
All in all, some good acting, good cinematography and decent, clear dialog (especially for a made-for-TV flick). If anything is lacking its a good musical score, but it doesn't take away much from the movie. I can only recommend this movie to all. Most will learn a lot by watching it, and it will make many think again about the preconceptions they have about this issue, mostly due to ignorance and misinformation in the media.
Both sides... now and then
zuriga-115 February 2011
We haven't seen all the episodes of this drama yet, but I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a depiction of what life has been like in Israel and the Palestinian area for the past 60-70 years. I was happy to find that both sides of the ongoing conflict are shown, and as most of us know, there really is not one side or another to blame for all the hatred and killings and destruction.
I wasn't too happy with Claire Foy's performance. She seems to have one expression and that's about it. Christian Cooke is much more appealing as a British soldier based in Israel and dealing with the hatred of the Jews towards those who were appointed to protect the area. It's no surprise he falls for a Jewish refugee who might just have links to the Irgun. And are the Irgun terrorists or freedom fighters? The answer isn't an easy one even to this day.
I wasn't too happy with Claire Foy's performance. She seems to have one expression and that's about it. Christian Cooke is much more appealing as a British soldier based in Israel and dealing with the hatred of the Jews towards those who were appointed to protect the area. It's no surprise he falls for a Jewish refugee who might just have links to the Irgun. And are the Irgun terrorists or freedom fighters? The answer isn't an easy one even to this day.
Promising
pawebster20 February 2011
This serial is still running as I write, so this opinion is not necessarily final. I have found the series to be absorbing viewing so far as far as drama is concerned. It has me glued to the screen.
It is mainly set in a period that most people outside Palestine/Israel know little about. Christian Cooke is pretty good as the protagonist. I only wonder a little that his character is rather taciturn and unexpressive, which seems a bit out of kilter with the eloquent diary he is supposed to have written.
Others have noted that Claire Foy is Miss One Note here. However, a lot of teenagers are rather like her, sadly. Had I been in charge, I think I would have scrapped the present day parts. They are less tense and less interesting than the historical ones and the links between the two are a bit crass at times. Also, the Foy character has to read the diary in very slow instalments, which is unrealistic.
As an outsider, I cannot judge the fairness of the portrayal of the conflict in Palestine. It comes over as rather anti-Jewish to me.
It is mainly set in a period that most people outside Palestine/Israel know little about. Christian Cooke is pretty good as the protagonist. I only wonder a little that his character is rather taciturn and unexpressive, which seems a bit out of kilter with the eloquent diary he is supposed to have written.
Others have noted that Claire Foy is Miss One Note here. However, a lot of teenagers are rather like her, sadly. Had I been in charge, I think I would have scrapped the present day parts. They are less tense and less interesting than the historical ones and the links between the two are a bit crass at times. Also, the Foy character has to read the diary in very slow instalments, which is unrealistic.
As an outsider, I cannot judge the fairness of the portrayal of the conflict in Palestine. It comes over as rather anti-Jewish to me.
Propaganda, pure and simple. (You say Kosminsky, I say Buttinsky!)
nothingisforbidden24 August 2017
What did I learn from watching The Promise?
Palestinians are warm, family-loving, loyal, peaceful, noble people, rich in spirit. Even the best Jews are hapless dupes of an evil police state; the rest are cold, heartless, scheming, violent and greedy—the opposite of noble.
And the Brits? God bless those Brits! They are a wise and altruistic people who once ran a worldwide empire purely as an act of selfless philanthropy, bringing civilization and maintaining peace among lesser peoples. If only the Brits still ruled the world!
Seriously, there is not a Palestinian in this movie who is not noble. And not a Jew who is not ignoble. The Brits are a bit more mixed—one of them, after all, falls for a Jewess and becomes yet another pawn in their evil scheme. But our British hero and heroine are shining examples of a type known in another era as the Ugly American—know-it- all buttinskys who think they possess an unerring moral compass and feel obliged to stick their noses in other people's business, certain that only they, the Brits, can sort things out. As foreigners abroad, it would never occur to them to simply mind their own business.
The leading actors are also very good looking. Kosminsky knows that the surest way to keep an audience watching is to offer excellent eye-candy. But there is no nudity, or even much skin at all. The women are hardly even glimpsed in the love scenes, staying hidden under the sheets. The Promise is unusually chaste for a miniseries made in 2011, and I wondered about this, until I realized that Kosminsky deliberately deleted any naughty bits so as not to offend any prudish Palestinian members of the audience.
As filmmaking, The Promise is above average. I'd give it a solid six stars. As propaganda, its scores nine (negative) stars, because being duped into watching propaganda puts me in a bad mood. That's a net negative three, which can only be scored here as one star.
About halfway through this four-parter, I still hoped the story might resolve in a nuanced and morally complex manner worthy of the thorny material—the sort of story we get from the best of le Carré or Graham Greene. But by the end, there is no ambiguity. There are good guys and bad guys—and a filmmaker with a clear agenda.
Palestinians are warm, family-loving, loyal, peaceful, noble people, rich in spirit. Even the best Jews are hapless dupes of an evil police state; the rest are cold, heartless, scheming, violent and greedy—the opposite of noble.
And the Brits? God bless those Brits! They are a wise and altruistic people who once ran a worldwide empire purely as an act of selfless philanthropy, bringing civilization and maintaining peace among lesser peoples. If only the Brits still ruled the world!
Seriously, there is not a Palestinian in this movie who is not noble. And not a Jew who is not ignoble. The Brits are a bit more mixed—one of them, after all, falls for a Jewess and becomes yet another pawn in their evil scheme. But our British hero and heroine are shining examples of a type known in another era as the Ugly American—know-it- all buttinskys who think they possess an unerring moral compass and feel obliged to stick their noses in other people's business, certain that only they, the Brits, can sort things out. As foreigners abroad, it would never occur to them to simply mind their own business.
The leading actors are also very good looking. Kosminsky knows that the surest way to keep an audience watching is to offer excellent eye-candy. But there is no nudity, or even much skin at all. The women are hardly even glimpsed in the love scenes, staying hidden under the sheets. The Promise is unusually chaste for a miniseries made in 2011, and I wondered about this, until I realized that Kosminsky deliberately deleted any naughty bits so as not to offend any prudish Palestinian members of the audience.
As filmmaking, The Promise is above average. I'd give it a solid six stars. As propaganda, its scores nine (negative) stars, because being duped into watching propaganda puts me in a bad mood. That's a net negative three, which can only be scored here as one star.
About halfway through this four-parter, I still hoped the story might resolve in a nuanced and morally complex manner worthy of the thorny material—the sort of story we get from the best of le Carré or Graham Greene. But by the end, there is no ambiguity. There are good guys and bad guys—and a filmmaker with a clear agenda.
Perfect story to show the truth
khaleeel20072 August 2015
It was an amazing series with an emotional ending.
The Series was talking about the British Mandate, and how the Zionist enter to Palestine (Arabian Land) and how they robbed the land by force and arms.
The strength point which we have seen in this series that the Palestinian territories are stolen every day and Zionist territory is expanding from generation to another.
I was enjoying watching the movie and it reflects the true picture of the situation in Palestine.
I recommend this movie to all who wants to see the truth.
The Series was talking about the British Mandate, and how the Zionist enter to Palestine (Arabian Land) and how they robbed the land by force and arms.
The strength point which we have seen in this series that the Palestinian territories are stolen every day and Zionist territory is expanding from generation to another.
I was enjoying watching the movie and it reflects the true picture of the situation in Palestine.
I recommend this movie to all who wants to see the truth.
What a Show !
Innacana16 June 2022
Excellent show! Beautifully done. The series did not take any sides yet showed the real picture of how Palestinians are being treated by their occupiers.
The show also depicted very nicely a comparison between 1948 and present day. Very enjoyable and well portrayed show. Perhaps the world can watch this show and learn about what Israel actually does. As the protagonist Erin said, "I learned a lot".
The show also depicted very nicely a comparison between 1948 and present day. Very enjoyable and well portrayed show. Perhaps the world can watch this show and learn about what Israel actually does. As the protagonist Erin said, "I learned a lot".
Unobtainium
repeet16 February 2022
I caught this on a streaming service years ago, liked it, then bought the box set on DVD.
Good luck finding it now.
I just tried to "buy" it from amazon prime video and it was nowhere to be found.
Both Britain and Israel had fits with this movie because both of them felt that their countries histories and political positions had been inaccurately presented. So apparently they've succeeded in erasing this movie from cyber space. Pity.
The truth is that any organized government has enough mindless bureaucratic incompetence to supply an abundance of "unfortunate" evil into the world. Just pick up the newspaper.
The story is about a spoiled, bored, and aimless teenager who discovers that the grandfather the hardly knows was both a witness and a participant to a contested yet integral confluence of modern history.
She decides to take upon herself the task of fulfilling an unfulfilled promise made by her grandfather in his youth.
She pursues such with total disregard to the political landscape or sensitivity to the people she is involved with.
Six episodes of well researched but still semi-historical antics. Highly recommended.
Good luck finding it now.
I just tried to "buy" it from amazon prime video and it was nowhere to be found.
Both Britain and Israel had fits with this movie because both of them felt that their countries histories and political positions had been inaccurately presented. So apparently they've succeeded in erasing this movie from cyber space. Pity.
The truth is that any organized government has enough mindless bureaucratic incompetence to supply an abundance of "unfortunate" evil into the world. Just pick up the newspaper.
The story is about a spoiled, bored, and aimless teenager who discovers that the grandfather the hardly knows was both a witness and a participant to a contested yet integral confluence of modern history.
She decides to take upon herself the task of fulfilling an unfulfilled promise made by her grandfather in his youth.
She pursues such with total disregard to the political landscape or sensitivity to the people she is involved with.
Six episodes of well researched but still semi-historical antics. Highly recommended.
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