Featuring a terrific lead cast, lensing by Javier Aguirresarobe (“The Road,” “The Others,” “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”), and direction by Terry George (“Hotel Rwanda“), it’s a shame that “The Promise” was such a crushing disappointment when we saw it at TIFF this fall. However, there are few films that have been set against the backdrop of the Armenian genocide, which is perhaps one small credit one can give to the film.
Co-starring Charlotte Le Bon, the story centers on a love triangle that forms between an Associated Press reporter, a medical student, and an artist, all as war starts to unfold around them. Here’s the official synopsis:
Empires fall, love survives. When Michael (Oscar Isaac), a brilliant medical student, meets Ana (Charlotte Le Bon), their shared Armenian heritage sparks an attraction that explodes into a romantic rivalry between Michael and Ana’s boyfriend Chris (Christian Bale), a famous American photojournalist dedicated to exposing political truth. As the Ottoman Empire crumbles into war-torn chaos, their conflicting passions must be deferred while they join forces to get their people to safety and survive themselves.
“The Promise” opens on April 21st.
