The Promise

Parental Rating: PG-13

Contains: Violence    Adult Content    

Jill's Review

Opens April 21, 2017

Runs 132 minutes

Mikael Boghosian (Oscar Isaac) comes from a long line of Armenian pharmacists but he longs to be a Doctor. Unfortunately, he just can't afford the fees. So, he agrees to marry Maral (Angela Sarafyan) and use the dowry for medical school. He hopes he will come to love her in the future. He heads to Constantinople and moves in with his uncle. His uncle has a beautiful home, a beautiful family and a beautiful and sophisticated Armenian woman who tutors his daughters. Mikael is smitten with Ana Khesarian (Charlotte Le Bon). But, she is living with American reporter Chris Myers (Christian Bale) and he has made a promise to his betrothed, after all. They all become friends but Chris can see how Mikael feels and there is definitely tension between them. As the end of the Ottoman Empire nears, WWI hits the region and the Turks begin a systematic annihilation of the Armenian people. Surrounded by war, the three friends fight to survive and must join forces to help save as many people as they can.

The Husband and I were pleasantly surprised by this movie. Set against the Armenian genocide, this was a moving story of love, family, friendship and war time tragedy. I wasn't completely familiar with the whole story of the Armenian genocide so this was eye-opening. Over a million and a half people were driven from their homes and put to death. (Of course, this is also eerily similar to events in the Middle East today.) The love triangle was fiction but it made for an engrossing back story for the whole movie. I thought the acting was top notch. The cinematography was great and the love triangle wasn't too cheesy. And, the film's profits are being donated to humanitarian efforts around the world. So, I would recommend this movie. We liked it! Go see it.

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