Promises

Colour, 35mm
Israel/USA, 2000, 106 min
Section: Intolerance

Synopsis

From 1997 to 2000, between the first and second stages of the intifada, relative calm reigned on the Palestinian-Israeli border. Focusing on seven Israeli and Palestinian children, the filmmakers demonstrate just how divided the lives of neighbours can be: they live in immediate proximity but only touch each other indirectly through border barricades and violent street fighting. In the same way, the young participants in the film (nine to thirteen years old) uphold an entirely uncompromising stance – not a very hopeful sign for future rapprochement. Will the situation change after the filmmakers manage to have them meet face to face? Will Faraj give up his goal of killing as many Jews as possible? Are twins Yarka and Daniel more interested in meeting Faraj than in going to a school volleyball tournament? And, however carefully nurtured, can friendship survive practical obstacles?

About the director

Justine Shapiro was born in South Africa and grew up in Berkeley, California. She has worked for fifteen years as an actress in film, television and the theatre. Since 1994 she has been seen in the travel series Lonely Planet. She has also written screenplays. Promises is her feature debut. B. Z. Goldberg was born in Boston but grew up near Jerusalem. He studied film at New York University, then worked as a journalist during the first Palestinian intifada. He has also worked as a specialist solving international conflicts. Carlos Bolado was born in Mexico. His directorial feature debut Under California, The Limit of Time (1999) was selected to film festivals worldwide. Carlos received international recognition for editing film Like Water for Chocolate (1991) and Like a Bride (1993).