Promises is a 2001 documentary film that examines the israelipalestinian conflict from the perspectives of seven children living in the palestinian communities in the west bank and israeli neighborhoods of jerusalem. Romero, the film is jwm productions first feature documentary. The taubman center for american politics and policy presents a screening of besa. What makes the promise a truly powerful experience is that the cast and crew do a fine job of giving us a personal connection to the events of the armenian genocide through this film. A quick pick you up to let you know you are not alone. The promise is a powerful look at a historic example of basic human solidarity. The promise one night only and with special guest speaker and holocaust survivor, johanna neumann sunday, november 10 at 3 p. Besa, the promise film thursday january 16, 2020 at 5. The promise details how a muslim military king of albania opened borders, how ordinary citizens hid jews, how one man passed on his promise to his son, and how his son journeyed to israel after the fall of communism in albania to fulfill that promise. Besa pledge of honor is an albanian cultural precept, usually translated as faith, that means to keep the promise and word of honor. The promise uk jewish film is a registered charity no 1072914. The promise gives a simple reminder that love and support makes fighting lifes obstacles easier. And rexheps promise is more than words its part of his besa an honor code that, among other things, pledges all.
Invoking the ancient moral code of besa a vow to care for anyone facing danger, many people in albania including muslims, catholics, and orthodox christians sheltered, hid, and protected jews from the occupying germans. When the nazis occupied albania, not a single jew was betrayed by its citizens mostly muslims. The promise is a surprising and moving documentary that should be required viewing in all high schools and even junior high schools, as it teaches. Because albania was closed off from the rest of the world until communism fell in 1991, there had been no way for the jewish. A documentary exploring how albanians, including many muslims, helped and sheltered jewish refugees during wwii at their own risk, and trying to help the. Uk jewish film is dedicated to developing an environment in which jewish film entertains, educates and enlightens diverse audiences in the uk and internationally. Beaufort international film festival takes place in beaufort, sc. A 60 year old promise, unfulfilled but not forgotten. The promise is drenched in production value and replete with ravishing shots of sunrises and sunsets, but its in the scenes of fleeing, of battle, and of horrendous loss that the film is at its most effective. The muslim men and women of albania save nearly 2,000 jews from the nazis during world war ii. The 2020 mobile jewish film festival opens thursday with a special presentation of a film paired with a new mobile museum of art exhibition. The promise film screening by building bridges from desktop or your mobile device. Jwm productions the eye contact foundation the eye contact foundation.
Sunday cst at 1769 springhill ave, mobile, al 36607, united states. The promise is the last great untold story of world war ii. The promise on the survival of jews in albania during the holocaust. The search for jewish film begins and ends with jfi on demand, an innovative curated streaming service of jewish films that combines the legacy of the san francisco jewish film festival with the latest trends in streaming platforms. Gershman and in an awardwinning documentary film besa. Veteran serbian director srdjan karanovics besa aka solemn promise has been chosen as his countrys candidate for the academy award nominations for best foreign language film. She is a young and pretty slovenian woman, a teacher of rhythmics and. Gershman, who sets out to record the bravery and compassion of albanians who provided refuge for jewish immigrants during nazi occupation, and. The promise details how a muslim military king of albania opened borders, how ordinary citizens. The promise is a film about the albanian muslims who saved jews during the holocaust. Its witnessed through the prism of two men joined together in a remarkable and unexpected quest.
The promise weaves albanias heroism in wwii through the. The promise is the neverbeforetold story of albania a small european country which opened its borders to shelter jewish refugees, even as it endured a brutal nazi occupation. And rexheps promise is more than words its part of his besa an honor code that, among other things, pledges all albanians to offer safe harbor to refugees. With predrag miki manojlovic, iva krajnc, radivoje bukvic, nebojsa dugalic.
The promise film and discussion tewksbury, ma patch. See more ideas about jewish film festival, documentaries and rosh hashanah cards. The promise 2012 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. What others are saying beaufort international film festival takes place in beaufort, sc. During world war ii, albanian muslims provided shelter for thousands of jewish refugees from germany, austria, and bulgaria.
The promise official movie trailer by besathepromise the official trailer to besa the promise a doc feature film telling the stories of albanian muslims who saved jews during wwii. He assisted on besa the promise an independent documentary feature with its world premiere at the san francisco jewish film festival, 2012. The promise film screening by building bridges published on 201712t18. Besa is the story of a loyal italian father, forced to defend his son who has inadvertently sparked a new york mob war between sicilian and albanian crime families. Goslins film is a reminder that muslims have fought. Mobile jewish film festival 2020 mobile area jewish federation. Besa machine gun, a czech machine gun design developed by the birmingham small arms company. In the 2010s, the cultural institution of besa featured in an international exhibition named besa. The promise tells the story of heroic albanians in wwii through the journeys of two men. Besa feature screenplay reading by michael miceli youtube. The book reveals a hidden period in history, slowly emerging after the fall of an isolationist communist regime, and shows the compassionate side of. At the very beginning of the world war i, filip, a serb and the principal of a gymnasium in a small serbian town, is summoned urgently to belgrade to serve in the war effort. Rexhep must fulfill the promise made to a jewish family his father rescued during the holocaust and return to them a set of hebrew books they left behind. A 60 year old promise unfulfilled but not forgotten.
The promise is the remarkable story of the muslim men and women of albania who saved the lives of nearly 2,000 jews during world war ii. Official movie website for the promise, starring oscar isaac, charlotte le bon, and christian bale. The promise isnt an academic exploration of the besa tradition, but tells on a personal level how besa played out during world war ii. Come experience this story of bravery through this engaging film. The story is based on stefan zweigs novel journey into the past and stars rebecca hall, alan rickman, richard madden, and maggie steed. The promise, a documentary about a promise kept between two families that endured the nazi occupation. Jan 28, 2012 one of the best serbian films ive had the pleasure of watching in recent years. Because albania was closed off from the rest of the world until communism fell.
The promise is the neverbeforetold story of the muslims of nazioccupied albania who saved the lives of thousands of jews. The film focuses on the journey of two men, including norman h. The spy behind home plate mobile jewish film festival. Mobile jewish film festival opens 10film run thursday. The second is a muslimalbanian who must fulfill a promise. Having said that, this was a very well made movie set amid the horrors of the armenian genocide. Overall, the festival presents 10 public screenings. Gershman sought out, photographed, and collected these powerful and moving stories of heroism in besa. Cultures through film grant, the documentary was further honored by the. This compelling documentary reveals the little known history of albanians, mostly muslims, who risked their lives sheltering jews during wwii, following the.
The promise weaves albanias heroism in wwii through the verite journeys of two men. Miki manojlovic gives an amazing performance as azem. Invoking the ancient moral code of besa a vow to care for anyone facing danger, many people in albania. One is norman gershman, a renowned jewishamerican photographer determined to. In the interest of full disclosure, i should state up front that i am married to an armenian, and we watched the promise in a movie theater with our adult children. Rexhep hoxha, a muslim albanian storekeeper, and norman h. Whether your answer is yes or no, come experience this story of bravery and deeply meaningful bonds between muslims and jews through the documentary besa. Besa, the promise is a documentary film, produced by jwm productions and directed by rachel goslins. The promise film and discussion muslims in albania rescued nearly 2,000 jews during the holocaust. With gershman at the center of the film, besa finds a handful of albanians those who were alive during the war, or their descendants, who know their. Financial supporters include the eye contact foundation, jwm productions, the alwaleed bin talal foundation, and the righteous persons foundation.
Apr 21, 2017 the movie hits its cinematic stride, as it happens, when events are at their worst. Although the love triangle element of the film is one that has been overused by hollywood, it works effectively for this film. Their stories are told through the prism of two men, one an albanian muslim, the other an american jew, and the different, but equally remarkable journeys, that each must undertake. The film is rare in that it offers a message of tolerance in a region so full of distrust and hate towards each other, ironically all this happens while wwi which started in serbia is taking place in the story. Find showtimes, watch trailers, browse photos, track your watchlist and rate your favorite movies and tv shows on your phone or tablet. The promise 2017 tvma 1h 53m international movies in the wake of the 1997 financial crisis, two teens whose families face bankruptcy make a suicide pact but one of them breaks the promise. The film tells a remarkable story of the gentle, thoughtful albanian toyshop owner rexhep hoxha in his quest to find the jewish family his father. Told through the images of photographer norman gershman and in the words and deeds of the people who lived it besa. Presented by the jewish cultural society, a volunteer supported organization. Selected for a prestigious national endowment for the humanities bridging cultures through film grant, the documentary was further honored by the interest of one of americas greatest living composers, mr.
World premiere, san francisco jewish film festival special jury award, festival. The first is a renowned jewishamerican photographer determined to document firsthand accounts of albanian muslims who rescued thousands of jews during the holocaust. The promise presents a powerful human drama compounded by a devastating twist. The promise was underwritten by a generous grant from the national endowment for the humanities.
This compelling documentary reveals the little known history of albanians, mostly muslims, who risked their lives sheltering jews during wwii, following the ancient moral code of besa a promise. Bringing the circle to a close, gershman takes hoxha to israel, allowing him to fulfill the 66yearold promise to the jewish family he sheltered. The concept is synonymous, and, according to hofmann, treimer and schmidt, etymologically related, to the classical latin word fides, which in late ancient and medieval latin took on the christian meaning of faith, religious belief today extant in. Besa addresses the broad history of the rescues by following two characters affected by the experience. A promise is a 20 englishlanguage french drama romance film directed by patrice leconte and written by patrice leconte and jerome tonnerre. The promise weaves albanias heroism in wwii through.