Ohav Shomrony-Cohen Okay, folks... We had our nice secondary perspective at the situation, but just listen to a non- manipulated primary source such as myself, please.I am an Israeli teenager (fourteen years old) living in Berkeley, CA, and I would like to clarify that I have always stood with Israel, but not always agreed with it.This movie was, in fact, incredible. I enjoyed it and loved it. However, what I felt was happening was that the director used children to manipulate his left-wing views and project them innocently. Everyone who understands politics can see that this movie is left wing, as it criticizes the check points harshly, and projects the Israeli occupation as a satanic act.Now, if we just look beside the fact that these are cute/ugly/right-wing/left-wing/orthodox/ secular/martyred children... Take a look at the children's perspective and who we find a reliable source and who not...The chubby orthodox kid who loves his computer demonstrated the right-wing view of the Israelis, and as a slightly right-wing Israeli myself, I would like to say that his views do not represent the views of all of us. The director specifically picked a stupid-looking, stupid- talking, stupid-thinking right-wing kid in order to metaphorically say that these are the views of right-wing Israelis, and that's not true. On the other hand, the left-wing children, Yarko and Daniel (I was deeply impressed by those two), were very erudite, athletic, good- looking, and nice people - a model on how a kid their age should be. Just like there are smart right-wing people, there are also stupid left-wing people, and this is not the representation of a whole.On the other hand, the movie had some left-wing Palestinians (the girl whose dad is in jail), and some right-wing Palestinians (Faraj)... However, Faraj turned from a hating right-wing wannabe martyr to a much more tolerant, peaceful individual - and despite the fact that I am thrilled that he changed - I think that the message portrayed with this fact is extremely left- wing and biased. The fact that the right-wing Palestinian changed and the right-wing Israeli didn't gives outside viewers a bad image of Israel and the way it conducts its "occupation".I think that this movie is good for left-wing Israeli viewers, who believe in giving Palestine it's own state - but the bad thing is that even if you are a non-Israeli who is left-wing, it still sets a bad image on Israel. And both Israeli right-wing and outside right-wings would not think it portrays a good view on Israel.So, as an Israeli - I can see that the only way I can like this movie is if I am left-wing... And only Israeli left-wings will think it doesn't set a bad picture of Israel.I hope I made sense.Sincerely, Ohav Shomrony-Cohen 14 year [email protected] RATING: ****/*****

philo_lund42 A lot of people liked this film. Heck, I even like this film. I laughed, I cried...BUT...This isn't a Hollywood film about fictional characters in a fictional situation. It's a documentary about the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. So I have some very serious problems with the overall approach of the film.First of all, the main scenes in this film are built on the manipulation of reality by the filmmakers. In the two crucial scenes in the film, in which Palestinians are brought out of the West Bank to visit the remains of their village and Israeli children are brought into the West Bank to play with Palestinian children, the action is able to take place ONLY because the film's producers intervened and set up the situations.Now, to their credit, the directors don't hide the fact that they are manipulating reality. But just the fact that they do, and that this is what the entire crux of the film is based around, leaves me feeling a little empty. After all, wouldn't it be more to the point to show that, in fact, if you are Palestinian living in the West Bank you will NEVER be able to go visit the remains of your village in what is now Israel, and if you are Israeli you will NEVER go to a Palestinian refugee camp to find out what the "enemy" is actually like in person? I realize that these scenes are constructed to make a point. But I prefer documentaries that rely on the way things are, rather than the way things could/should be.And in creating this alternative to actual reality, the filmmakers have managed to gloss over the actual point that they SHOULD be making in a film about the Palestinian / Israeli conflict -- which is that the Israeli military occupation itself is at the root of this trouble, and that lifting it is the key to peace. Instead, a starry-eyed illusion is created in which, if we could all just meet each other and get along, then all the problems would be solved and the divisions mended. True enough, perhaps -- but where is the concrete truth, the actual root of separation? For all its lovely tearfulness, this film serves mostly to leave us feeling warm and sad, rather than address the actual issues that need to be addressed for this conflict to end.

oilbaron31 "Promises" is a feel-good sort of film -- far too easy for my taste, and not a good documentary. More like an opinion piece or a film essay. It's basically the "liberal" Israeli perspective -- the perspective that says "Well, wouldn't it be nice if we could all just get along?" without addressing the basic relationship between Israelis and Palestinians, which is embodied in the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This film essentially treats the Palestinian and Israeli characters as if they are on an equal footing, having a healthy ideological debate. The reality is, of course, far different.If you want a more realistic portrayal of what is going on in the minds of Palestinians, and the situation that they face on a daily basis, I would recommend seeing "Gaza Strip" (2002) which is much more of a verite, unscripted piece of solid documentary work. "Gaza Strip" doesn't cover the Israeli perspective, but it does provide a much deeper picture of the Palestinians than "Promises". Also, "Promises" was filmed almost entirely before the start of the current Palestinian uprising, so it tends to paint what is already an out-of-date picture. The two films would complement each other, I think.

valdezlopez Ever since I knew this was a film made in part by a Mexican, and that it had such an impact in award ceremonies, I've been looking for it.I was glad to find out that all the honors, prizes and kudos given to it weren't in vain.It's a wonderful experience to sit through. It widens the vision you have of the conflict, by letting us see it through the eyes of young, but not that innocent children.Some, we know they're talking with their open heart, some, we know they're reserving their real thoughts. In the end, the blend of ideologies -some simple, some quite complex- are enough to keep you asking for more.I do believe this is a film that should be shone, not only in school across the United States, but across the entire globe. It is my suggestion that this film be included as part of a subject across the whole world.If you are truly interested in this film, its makers are eagerly waiting the chance to make a sequel to it. All they're waiting for is the budget to be ready. Want to contribute? Check their web site!This are not actors, or aspiring performers. This are real people, real children. With hopes, with wishes, with thoughts. The camera is only there to show us a brief moment in their lives, but what about the rest?They will be there, in a land plagued by constant, (and to me, personally) senseless war. Even though they have already been through a lot of experiences some of lucky humans will never be put to, they are still children, who wait for a chance like this, to make themselves a Promise.