The Promise (1995)

A love, a hope, a wall.

The Promise (1995) poster

East-Berlin, 1961, shortly after the erection of the Wall. Konrad, Sophie and three of their friends plan a daring escape to Western Germany. The attempt is successful, except for Konrad, who remains behind. From then on, and for the next 28 years, Konrad and Sophie will attempt to meet again, in spite of the Iron Curtain. Konrad, who has become a reputed Astrophysicist, tries to take advantage of scientific congresses outside Eastern Germany to arrange encounters with Sophie. But in a country where the political police, the Stasi, monitors the moves of all suspicious people (such as Konrad's sister Barbara and her husband Harald), preserving one's privacy, ideals and self-respect becomes an exhausting fight, even as the Eastern block begins its long process of disintegration.

Director: Margarethe von Trotta
Genre: Drama, Romance
Runtime: 115 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Music: Jürgen Knieper
Cinematography: Franz Rath, Jörg Widmer
Editing: Suzanne Baron
Production: CNC, Odessa Films, Studio Babelsberg, Canal+, WDR, Neue Bioskop Film
Country: France, Germany, Switzerland
Language: Deutsch, English, Český
Original Language: de

Keywords

politics, anti-communism, woman director

More Films by Director: Margarethe von Trotta
More Films in Genre: Drama, Romance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Promise about?
East-Berlin, 1961, shortly after the erection of the Wall. Konrad, Sophie and three of their friends plan a daring escape to Western Germany. The attempt is successful, except for Konrad, who remains behind. From then on, and for the next 28 years, Konrad and Sophie will attempt to meet again, in spite of the Iron Curtain. Konrad, who has become a reputed Astrophysicist, tries to take advantage of scientific congresses outside Eastern Germany to arrange encounters with Sophie. But in a country where the political police, the Stasi, monitors the moves of all suspicious people (such as Konrad's sister Barbara and her husband Harald), preserving one's privacy, ideals and self-respect becomes an exhausting fight, even as the Eastern block begins its long process of disintegration.
Who directed The Promise?
The Promise was directed by Margarethe von Trotta.
Who stars in The Promise?
The Promise stars Meret Becker, Corinna Harfouch, Anian Zollner, August Zirner, Eva Mattes, Hark Bohm.
How long is The Promise?
The Promise has a runtime of 1h 55m (115 minutes).
What genre is The Promise?
The Promise is a Drama, Romance film.
Where was The Promise produced?
The Promise was produced in France, Germany, Switzerland.