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ARCHIVE

6th(2004)



The Promise / Das Versprechen

Margarethe VON TROTTA

  • Germany
  • 1994
  • 110min
  • 35mm
  • color

SYNOPSIS

In Berlin of August 1961, the wall was built on the boundary line dividing Germany into the east and the west by arbitrary decision of the Soviet Union. Presenting footages of historical facts, von Trotta introduces us to the time and the space of Berlin, where ¡®the most strange experiment in world history¡¯ was begun. Konrad and Sophie plan to escape to West Berlin with their friends in the autumn of 1961. On D-night, Konrad¡¯s sudden hesitation changes their destiny in an unexpected way: Konrad, stays in East Berlin, keeps watch on the tightly-guarded Berlin wall and Sophie watches him over the wall from the West. Two lovers attempt to meet afterward, but the reunion keeps being postponed.
 As in her other films, von Trotta shows her approach to historical matters by portraying individual lives: outer situations and inner sights that individuals have intermingle with each other . Throughout the 28 years from the construction to demolition of the Berlin wall, The Promise speculates the tragic side of German history in the shape of romance and people around Konrad. Many believe the wall itself is the cause of all tragedy, but the real cause is the German madness toward world domination. It is worth noticing that in this film, a heterosexual relationship is explored, instead of sisterhood like in most of von Trotta¡¯s other films. (Kwon Eun-sun)
 

PROGRAM NOTE

In Berlin of August 1961, the wall was built on the boundary line dividing Germany into the east and the west by arbitrary decision of the Soviet Union. Presenting footages of historical facts, von Trotta introduces us to the time and the space of Berlin, where ¡®the most strange experiment in world history¡¯ was begun. Konrad and Sophie plan to escape to West Berlin with their friends in the autumn of 1961. On D-night, Konrad¡¯s sudden hesitation changes their destiny in an unexpected way: Konrad, stays in East Berlin, keeps watch on the tightly-guarded Berlin wall and Sophie watches him over the wall from the West. Two lovers attempt to meet afterward, but the reunion keeps being postponed.
 As in her other films, von Trotta shows her approach to historical matters by portraying individual lives: outer situations and inner sights that individuals have intermingle with each other . Throughout the 28 years from the construction to demolition of the Berlin wall, The Promise speculates the tragic side of German history in the shape of romance and people around Konrad. Many believe the wall itself is the cause of all tragedy, but the real cause is the German madness toward world domination. It is worth noticing that in this film, a heterosexual relationship is explored, instead of sisterhood like in most of von Trotta¡¯s other films. (Kwon Eun-sun)
 

Director

  • Margarethe VON TROTTAMargarethe VON TROTTA

    Margarethe VON TROTTA is a renowned German director who started as a movie and theater actress, making her movie debut in Klaus LEMKE¡¯s Firestarters. Her much-respected first directorial work was The Second Awakening of Christa Klages. She made several author films such as Sisters to the Balance of Happiness and Marianne & Juliane, which won the Golden Lion in Venice in 1981. In 2012 she received the honorary award of the Bavarian Minister President. VON TROTTA is currently working on a documentary about Ingmar Bergmann.

Credit

  • ProducerEberhard Junkersdorf
  • Cast Corinna Harfouch, Meret Becker, August Zirner
  • Screenwriter Peter Schneider, Margarethe von Trotta, Felice Lau
  • Cinematography Franz Rath
  • Editor Suzanne Baron
  • Music Jurgen Knieper
  • Sound Christian Moldt