Promises (2002)

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... 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]

Director: B. Z. Goldberg, Justine Shapiro, Carlos Bolado

Director: B. Z. Goldberg, Justine Shapiro, Carlos Bolado
Screenwriter: Stephen Most
Producer: Justine Shapiro, B. Z. Goldberg
Studio: Cowboy Pictures