"The Promise" is a great example of how a viewer can be touched by a short film. This is a tear-jerker about a young Irish boy struggling with the harsh realities of life. The direction and acting (for the most part) are excellent, and are certainly the strongest components of this film. Feeling as if it is a precursor to an epic, this is a film worth seeing.
4 Reviews
Deft Directing and Cinematography with Some Superb Acting
wjbarry6626 July 2000
To me, this movie was truly amazing in two respects. First, the images presented to the viewer are strikingly elegant, especially considering the relatively small budget that went into the making of this film. Second, for a short film (less than 30 minutes) the viewer is taken through a gamut of emotions, ranging from the joy of carefree childhood friendships to the agony of losing a loved one. My only regret in watching this film is that it had to end so quickly. But this is not to say that the plot is not completely resolved at the end. I recommend that anyone who is interested in a good story, some nice acting, and some beautiful images. .
Director shows great promise with this short
anthempics9 October 2004
Warning: Spoilers
BEWARE! SPOILER: "The Promise" is a short that deals with a theme ALL of us have face or will face - the loss of a parent. A young boy names Patrick makes a promise with his ailing father. The father promises he'll get better, giving the boy hope that his father - his favorite playmate - will once again rise from his bedridden state and be his son's hero. Meanwhile, in an effort to make his reality a little better, Patrick plays with imaginary friends in the rolling hills of the Irish countryside. While in the woods, he meets Maggie, a young girl who proves to be the catalyst that helps heal Patrick's broken heart after the loss of his father.
This short film packs a lot of emotion in 20 minutes. The acting of the young boy Nicholas Schneider is top notch. As the main character, the director had to make sure this role was sympathetic or the movie might not work. Well, it works tremendously. I wonder what that young man is up to. One thing that puzzles me and I have to wonder about is who gave this movie a 1? I mean, what kind of Monkey do you have to be to not like this sweet independent flick? Feels like someone who lost out to "The Promise" at a some film festival or some other peon with an axe to grind. We as the IMDb community will never know since they fail to write exactly what brought them to that rating.
Oh well, the movie is great. I'm not sure where to pick it up, but it was on the San Francisco's arts & entertainment channel. Perhaps it's in your town too.
This short film packs a lot of emotion in 20 minutes. The acting of the young boy Nicholas Schneider is top notch. As the main character, the director had to make sure this role was sympathetic or the movie might not work. Well, it works tremendously. I wonder what that young man is up to. One thing that puzzles me and I have to wonder about is who gave this movie a 1? I mean, what kind of Monkey do you have to be to not like this sweet independent flick? Feels like someone who lost out to "The Promise" at a some film festival or some other peon with an axe to grind. We as the IMDb community will never know since they fail to write exactly what brought them to that rating.
Oh well, the movie is great. I'm not sure where to pick it up, but it was on the San Francisco's arts & entertainment channel. Perhaps it's in your town too.
worth it
bdunn775411 October 2004
this movie is cool. its short but really tells a lot of story and is stuffed with details in a limited amount of time (20 minutes i think.) i really liked the young boy and his love for his father...very touching, and when the unthinkable happens, his reaction is utterly gut-wrenching. it's a very well written movie..a lot moments spent in silence that are extremely effective in setting up the relationship of each sibling. not sure what the budget was because its obviously filmed on 16mm; however, all the other aspects - the performances, direction, music, etc. are great so it doesn't really matter. not much more i can say about this that hasn't been said 'cept you should check it out for a nice little piece of good short film-making.
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