We’re less than a month away from the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), among the most prestigious and polite of all the festivals in the calendar. And now details are emerging of some of the event’s big premieres. Here’s a first look at The Promise, a historical drama which is receiving its world premiere at TIFF.
The Promise is a romantic love triangle of sorts, set against the turbulent backdrop of the Armenian genocide as War World I began. Christian Bale, seen here with his most impressive facial hair since American Hustle, plays an American photojournalist who travels to the area with his Armenian girlfriend, played by Charlotte Le Bon.
There, they meet an Armenian apothecary, played by Oscar Isaac, and naturally sparks fly. Internal conflicts then meet external conflicts as the Ottoman Empire turns violently against its own people just as war breaks out.
Directed by Northern Irish filmmaker Terry George, who guided Don Cheadle to an Oscar nomination in Hotel Rwanda, and with a capable cast and a tragic historical backstory, it seems extremely likely that The Promise will be appearing on awards ballots very soon.
There’s no release date attached to this film yet, as no distributor has actually picked it up, but depending on the reception it gets at TIFF, expect to hear more about this one very soon indeed.