A Promise

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A Promise

R

2013

1h 35m

Drama

Romance

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13%

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24 Reviews

24%

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250+ Ratings

In the early 20th century, a love triangle forms between an ailing factory owner, his young bride and his protege.

Jonathan Romney

Observer (UK)

The main drawbacks are the grey decorousness of the pacing and visuals, and Richard Madden's unsympathetically flat playing as antihero Fritz.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 4, 2014

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Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

Nonetheless, at its best, it has some of the same qualities as Ophls' [Letter from an Unknown Woman].

Rated: 3/5

Aug 1, 2014

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David Hughes

Empire Magazine

If you only watch one Stefan Zweig-inspired film this year, watch The Grand Budapest Hotel. If you watch two, see The Grand Budapest Hotel twice. Awful.

Rated: 1/5

Jul 31, 2014

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Adam Lowes

CineVue

Leconte directs this early 19th century love triangle with all the weight and depth of a leisurely ITV afternoon drama.

Rated: 1/5

Apr 3, 2019

Full Review

Zach Hollwedel

Under the Radar

Though by no means an unbearable watch, A Promise is almost as much an exercise in patience for its viewers as it is for Friedrich and Lotte.

Rated: 5/10

Aug 15, 2014

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Rich Cline

Contactmusic.com

When a French filmmaker travels to Belgium to film a German story in English, it's hardly surprising that the resulting movie feels somewhat awkward.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 1, 2014

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roger g

Seeing a guy get almost sick pining for a woman he really can't have got boring very quickly. Pass on this one.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

If you're a Rebecca Hall fan, this is a must. She's stunning, and her work is high quality like always. I see reviews mention Alan Rickman, but his presence is pretty scant. Richard Madden is sullen and withdrawn throughout, pretty one dimensional, so it becomes baffling why Rebecca falls for him. The cinematography is intriguing, and the look of the film is lovely. The romance is nice, inasmuch as Rebecca can carry it anyway, but once the couple have to separate, the whole narrative falls apart, and we never really reconnect with the characters. One odd thing, the story started out feeling like Rickman was grooming Madden to replace him in all things, including husband, but then sends Madden abroad, and near his death he seems jealous and disappointed. Maybe the book fleshes all this out better. But the movie proper is confusing, then kind of fizzles. Again, just watch it for Rebecca Hall.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Audience Member

Alan Rickman certainly saves the entire film from being utterly forgettable.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

I'm going to say something improper: this film in the movie equivalent of blue balls. So disappointing.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

Period romance with a good appearance and style, but a much used love-triangle storyline.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

I watched the beginning and was bored, I skipped around the middle and was bored, I jumped to the end and was still bored. Seriously, this was an overly dramatic bit of sappy fluff.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

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Patrice Leconte

Director

Rebecca Hall

Charlotte Hoffmeister

Alan Rickman

Karl Hoffmeister

Richard Madden

Friederich

Maggie Steed

Frau Hermann

Jean-Louis Sbille

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Synopsis

In the early 20th century, a love triangle forms between an ailing factory owner, his young bride and his protege.

Director: Patrice Leconte
Producer: Olivier Delbosc, Genevieve Lemal, Marc Missonnier
Screenwriter: Patrice Leconte, Jérôme Tonnerre
Production Co: Wild Bunch, Scope Pictures
Rating: R (A Scene of Sexuality)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 4, 2017
Runtime: 1h 35m

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