The Promise
05/05/17 Filed in: Cinema
This is a film that takes an important if much contested historical event as the setting for a love triangle. The event is the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, although Turkey has never accepted the term genocide for what took place. The love triangle is between Mikael, an Armenian medical student, Ana, an Armenian raised largely in Paris and her boyfriend, Chris, an American journalist.
Mikael has left his village for Constantinople to study medicine. He is betrothed to Maral back in his village, the dowry he received funding his studies. Mikael's father has told him to contact an uncle in Constantinople who runs a successful business and it is when Mikael goes to his uncle's house that he meets Ana, who appears to be a form of governess for the children. Meanwhile, in medical school Mikael makes friends with Emre, a reluctant student but the son of high-ranking Turkish official. At a reception at Emre's house Mikael again meets Ana who's with her boyfriend Chris. Ana and Mikael, who are mutually attracted to each other, subsequently begin a relationship
It isn't long before things turn nasty as Armenians are rounded up and fear spreads. Mikael is temporarily reprieved thanks to his friend Emre, but as a result Emre himself incurs the displeasure of his father. Ana and Mikael witness the ransacked shop of his uncle and Mikael goes to try to secure his uncle's release. Emre again tries to help, but this time his influence isn't strong enough and Mikael ends up doing hard labour on a railway construction project under the eyes of brutal Turkish soldiers. A chain of events result in his escape and he eventually makes his way back to his village where his family and Maral are waiting. Maral's father insists on a quick wedding after which the couple move to a remote cabin.
Maral becomes unwell during pregnancy and Mikael takes her back to his parents, where he encounters his aunt and nieces who have fled Constantinople after the abduction of his uncle. Ana and Chris actually brought them, but Mikael's mother told Ana that Mikael was dead, sensing that she was the woman with whom his son had fallen in love. Mikael is told that Ana and Chris have gone to a Red Cross mission and sets off to find them.
The situation for the Armenians is rapidly deteriorating and Ana, Chris and Mikael set off with a group of orphans to try to reach the coast and evacuate by sea. On the way Mikael will pick up his family but things are already far worse than he could have imagined. During an encounter with Turkish troops Chris acts as a diversion, is captured, and accused of being a spy. Meanwhile, Mikael, Ana and the orphans meet up with a large group of people leaving the sea town where they were hoping to evacuate from, and it soon becomes clear that they all must make for the mountains to try to defend themselves. After successfully fighting off a small Turkish force they are faced with a much larger assault and make for the sea.
In the final sequence a French navy cruiser has been dispatched to rescue the refugees, who are by now under artillery assault and desperate. The three players in the love triangle are reunited but in what are now very perilous circumstances and who knows what their fate will be.
This film has not done well commercially and there is a suggestion that negative reviews were generated by those who dispute the history of the Armenian Genocide. It brings to the screen an atrocity that is perhaps little known about, and as such in many people's eyes was worth the investment irrespective of commercial success. However, it could be argued that the commercial imperative to have a romance in the plot weakens its impact as a historical statement.
The situation for the Armenians is rapidly deteriorating and Ana, Chris and Mikael set off with a group of orphans to try to reach the coast and evacuate by sea. On the way Mikael will pick up his family but things are already far worse than he could have imagined. During an encounter with Turkish troops Chris acts as a diversion, is captured, and accused of being a spy. Meanwhile, Mikael, Ana and the orphans meet up with a large group of people leaving the sea town where they were hoping to evacuate from, and it soon becomes clear that they all must make for the mountains to try to defend themselves. After successfully fighting off a small Turkish force they are faced with a much larger assault and make for the sea.
In the final sequence a French navy cruiser has been dispatched to rescue the refugees, who are by now under artillery assault and desperate. The three players in the love triangle are reunited but in what are now very perilous circumstances and who knows what their fate will be.
This film has not done well commercially and there is a suggestion that negative reviews were generated by those who dispute the history of the Armenian Genocide. It brings to the screen an atrocity that is perhaps little known about, and as such in many people's eyes was worth the investment irrespective of commercial success. However, it could be argued that the commercial imperative to have a romance in the plot weakens its impact as a historical statement.