LOVE AND WAR
THE PROMISE Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac go head-to-head in a sweeping historical epic.
Writer/director Terry George has a reputation for pursuing intense stories of real-life genocide ( Hotel Rwanda), as well as civil war ( Some Mother’s Son and In The Name Of The Father are set in his native Northern Ireland), so the subject matter of The Promise is a perfect fit for the outspoken filmmaker.
The historical drama, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2016, uses the frequently suppressed events of the Armenian Genocide – carried out by Turkey’s Ottoman Empire – as its backdrop, putting a love triangle front and centre. “The love story needs to predominate,” George tells Teasers in a Toronto café. “Ultimately, it’s a piece of entertainment. I want people to be moved by the love story, and hopefully that becomes the reason they want to see the film, and then they take on board the historical context for it.”
Beginning in 1914, the love triangle involves Armenian medical student Michael (Oscar Isaac), Ana (Charlotte Le Bon), the woman he falls for, and Ana’s partner, Chris (Christian Bale), an American journalist. “Christian was perfect for this role,” explains George. “The crusading reporter during the First World War. He’s fastidious about the research and the mannerisms and the look and so forth.” As for Isaac, George was interested in his chameleon qualities. “He can go from Ex Machina – that evil character – to Llewyn Davis, to
Star Wars, and now this, which required a romantic lead.”
Their box-office appeal didn’t hurt either, but their schedules meant there were only 72 shooting days to film in 20 locations across three countries (Spain, Portugal and Malta). “I was shooting it faster than most of the smaller films I’ve done,” gasps George, who had no qualms about tackling another genocide story after Hotel Rwanda. “Not at all,” he asserts. “Particularly with this subject, it’s been so under-covered.” If you’re not familiar with the Armenian Genocide, it’s hardly surprising. “It’s been very actively suppressed,” blasts George. “At one point, during the First World War, it was the most heavily reported event in the American media. Then after Turkish independence, it became [ actively suppressed].”
George draws parallels with modern events in Syria and on the Turkish borders, but ultimately hopes the film’s epic sweep and A-list stars will attract audiences to a story they’d otherwise not have heard about. “I really thought, ‘Here’s the challenge: How can I get this story out in cinemas?’” he says. “We had the chance to make a big movie that hopefully – if we get a break – might cross over into the mainstream and present this event to a population that will be open to it.”