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Promises

7.9

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Original title: Promises
Year: 2001
Running time: 106 min.
Country: Israel
Director: Justine Shapiro, B.Z. Goldberg, Carlos Bolado
Screenwriter: Justine Shapiro, B.Z. Goldberg
Cast: Documentary
Cinematography: Justine Shapiro, B.Z. Goldberg, Carlos Bolado
Producer: Co-production Israel-United States;
Genre: Documentary | Childhood. Arab-Israeli conflict
Synopsis: Several Jewish and Palestinian children are followed for three years and put in touch with each other, in this alternative look at the Jewish-Palestinian conflict. The three filmmakers followed a group of seven local children between 1995 and 1998. They all have a totally different background. These seven children tell their own story about growing up in Jerusalem. Through this portrait of their generation, we see how deep rooted and almost insoluble the problems of the Middle East have become. When the protagonists speak out in an epilogue a couple of years later, it becomes apparent that all have lost their childlike innocence.

Rankings Position

#19 Best Documentaries of the 21st century
#32 Best Documentaries in the history of film

Awards: 2001: Nominated for Oscar: Best Documentary

2001: Independent Spirit Awards: Nominated for Best Documentary

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Critics' reviews

"Beautifully crafted and brutally honest"

Loren King: Boston Globe
"Polarized world views from the mouths of babes -- unfortunately does little to mitigate this depressing image, but much to humanize both sides."

Megan Turner: New York Post
"Demonstrates the unusual power of thoughtful, subjective filmmaking."

Julie Salamon: The New York Times
"'Promises' takes a simple idea and just about breaks your heart with it."

Kenneth Turan: Los Angeles Times
"Proves too sincere to exploit its subjects and too honest to manipulate its audience."

Paul Malcolm: LA Weekly
"Provides deeply humanistic insight into the complexities of the Middle East conflict that political analysis or front-line news coverage often lacks."

David Rooney: The Hollywood Reporter

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Ranking Lists Position

76 My Favorite Documentaries (86)

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Promises

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