The Promise

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The Promise

Released Oct 6, 1996

1h 34m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Roger (Olivier Gourmet) uses his 15-year-old son, Igor (Jérémie Renier), to help traffic, house and ruthlessly exploit illegal immigrants in Belgium. When African immigrant Amidou (Rasmane Ouedraogo) tumbles from a scaffold, Igor finds him before he dies and promises that he will take care of his wife and baby. Forced by his father to cover up the death, Igor struggles to choose between loyalty to his unsavory parent and keeping the promise that he made to the dying man.

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Globe and Mail

Rated: 3/4

Apr 12, 2002

Full Review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

A penetrating coming-of-age story, one that argues that adulthood begins with the emergence of moral convictions.

Rated: 4.5/5

Feb 21, 2001

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Jeff Millar

Houston Chronicle

The film is entirely within the caught-on-the-run tradition of cinema verite, which makes it all the grittier and its conclusion all the more wrenching.

Feb 21, 2001

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

[An] unvarnished narrative gut-punch...

Apr 4, 2023

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Amber Wilkinson

Eye for Film

The Dardennes' film is unfussy and the revelations small but that is why it is so affecting.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 13, 2013

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Christopher Long

Movie Metropolis

(The Dardennes') "first" film has attained a special place in the hearts of critics and other viewers. Its reputation has not been exaggerated in the least.

Rated: 9/10

Aug 21, 2012

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Brenton C

Anat is a liar and an active participant in a genocide, spreading unverifiable information and outright lies. She is not a journalist but the paper of date, the NYT, decided in their infinite wisdom to grant a former (and current) Israeli military operative the title of journalist, despite never doing this job before. She is a trash human being and belongs firstly in The Hague for a trial and in front of cameras for her public execution. If you don't like that, Anat, maybe you shouldn't spread genocidal lies,

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/01/24

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Audience Member

A sad and well acted film about the exploitation of illegal immigrants and about an abusive father. Not sure I'd recommend to anyone as it's just dark but it is well made.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Audience Member

No makeup, no nonsense, no loopholes. Just brutal reality with a good acting and story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

Very gritty, atmospheric and involving, but the ending felt a bit forced.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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nefasto r

It looks like there is no enough magic powder on this planet to protect us from all the evil around, although sometimes a promise, can do way more. Another thing I cannot have enough apparently is the naturalism / realism of the Dardennes brothers. This is the third film I am watching and the third I liked. Not many left, but there is no stopping me now!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A compassionate and honest work of art about the hard adolescent realization that your parents are simply flawed (sometimes outright immoral) people like everyone else. Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne did an impeccable job. This is a film brimming with empathy and humanity.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

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Jean-Pierre Dardenne

Director

Luc Dardenne

Director

Jérémie Renier

Igor

Olivier Gourmet

Roger

Assita Ouedraogo

Assita

Sophie Leboutte

Actor

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Synopsis

Roger (Olivier Gourmet) uses his 15-year-old son, Igor (Jérémie Renier), to help traffic, house and ruthlessly exploit illegal immigrants in Belgium. When African immigrant Amidou (Rasmane Ouedraogo) tumbles from a scaffold, Igor finds him before he dies and promises that he will take care of his wife and baby. Forced by his father to cover up the death, Igor struggles to choose between loyalty to his unsavory parent and keeping the promise that he made to the dying man.

Director: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Producer: Hassen Daldoul, Luc Dardenne
Screenwriter: Luc Dardenne, Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Claude Waringo
Distributor: New Yorker Films
Production Co: Eurimages
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 6, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $454.7K
Runtime: 1h 34m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, 16mm, Flat (1.66:1)

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