The Promise
Director: Terry George
Talent: Oscar Isaac, Charlotte Le Bon, Christian Bale, Daniel Giménez Cacho
Released: 28th April
Directed by Terry George, who made the flawed but worthy Hotel Rwanda, new historical epic The Promise takes clear inspiration from the works of David Lean, particularly his adaptation of Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago. Unfortunately, this new film about the Armenian Genocide during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire falls well short of the mark.
The story follows an Armenian medical student named Michael (Isaac), who falls in love with Ana (Le Bon), much to the chagrin of her American lover, Associated Press reporter Christopher (Bale). Their hackneyed, contrived and utterly bloodless romantic triangle unfolds as WWI breaks out and the persecution and systematic murder of the Armenian population by the Ottoman regime begins.
Though all three lead actors are fine in underwritten roles, this is a plodding mess that somehow manages to drain the horrifying real life events of any sense of urgency or danger. The Promise can’t help but be sporadically moving and although everyone involved is clearly filled with good intentions, one is inevitably reminded of what they say about the road to hell. Meh.
Words – Felipe Deakin
