Promises (2002)
Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins
Theatrical Release: Mar 15, 2002 Limited
Synopsis: Rather than focusing on political events, the seven children featured in Promises offer a compelling human portrait of the Israeli & Palestinian conflict. The film draws viewers into the hearts and minds of Jerusalem’s children by giving voice to those captured by the region's hatreds as... Rather than focusing on political events, the seven children featured in Promises offer a compelling human portrait of the Israeli & Palestinian conflict. The film draws viewers into the hearts and minds of Jerusalem’s children by giving voice to those captured by the region's hatreds as well as those able to transcend them. These seven children are between the ages of 9-13, an age group that rarely has the opportunity to speak for itself. They are less self-conscious and polite than teenagers and adults. They speak directly and without self-censorship and are both true mirrors of their cultures and spokespeople for future generations of Israelis and Palestinians. Promises follows the journey of filmmaker B.Z. Goldberg, an American who grew up in Jerusalem and was a journalist during the intifada, (Palestinian uprising.) Over the course of 4 years, B.Z. and Justine Shapiro , the filmmakers, were welcomed into the daily lives of these seven children and their families. Each child offers a dramatic, emotional and sometimes hilarious insight into what it’s like to grow up in the charged and complex city of Jerusalem. Audiences will engage with Palestinian & Israeli kids, coming to know them as multi-dimensional people, not as simple stereotypes perpetuated by the mainstream media. Though they live only 20 minutes apart, the seven children exist in completely separate worlds; the physical, historical and emotional obstacles between them run deep. The ability to have dialogues with anyone, in a way that breaks through prejudices, is surely a prerequisite for peace in the region. And yet hardly anyone has such conversations. The Filmmakers were able to confront and overcome these obstacles, but could these children ever do the same? Promises explores the nature of these boundaries and tells the story of a few children who dared to cross the lines to meet their neighbors. The film is intended for TV broadcast and for organizations involved in public policy, conflict resolution and the peace process. The film will also serve as a tool to prepare future generations of Israelis & Palestinians for the challenges of peacemaking. -- © 2002 The Promises Film Project [More]
Genre: Education/General Interest
Screenwriter: Stephen Most
Producer: Justine Shapiro, B. Z. Goldberg
DVD Info
Release:
Nov 16, 2004
DVD Features:
- Region (unknown)
- Keep Case
- Full Frame - 1.33
Additional Release Materail:
- Updates of the Israeli and Palestinian children filmed
- Footage of kids journey to the 2002 academy awards
- Original Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Features:
- Scene Access
Buy It On DVD
Reviews
If there's one big point to Promises, it's that nothing can change while physical and psychological barriers keep the sides from speaking even one word to each other.
A profoundly moving document...The filmmakers' refusal to downplay the situation's intractability makes the glimmer of hope the film offers that much more powerful.
If nothing else, this balanced and moving film is both informative and entertaining.
The children are all so beautiful and smart and it's heartbreaking when they talk about death as casually as they talk about soccer.
Give Shapiro, Goldman, and Bolado credit for good intentions, but there's nothing here that they couldn't have done in half an hour.
Too sincere to exploit its subjects and too honest to manipulate its audience.
What emerges is an unsettling picture of childhood innocence combined with indoctrinated prejudice. Promises is a compelling piece that demonstrates just how well children can be trained to live out and carry on their parents' anguish.
A gripping documentary that reveals how deep the antagonism lies in war-torn Jerusalem.
What's so extraordinary about this Oscar-nominated work is that it shows us that conflict through the eyes of seven bright, funny, thoughtful kids, ages 9 to 13, on both sides.
Beautifully crafted and brutally honest, Promises offers an unexpected window into the complexities of prejudice.
Promises is one film that's truly deserving of its Oscar nomination.
Even these tales of just seven children seem at times too many, although in reality they are not enough. Every child's story is what matters. This film can only point the way -- but thank goodness for this signpost.
It deserves to be seen by anyone with even a passing interest in the events shaping the world beyond their own horizons.
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by: REEL_REVIEWER 11/16/04


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