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Promise at Dawn

Original title: La promesse de l'aube
  • 2017
  • 2h 11m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
Charlotte Gainsbourg and Pierre Niney in Promise at Dawn (2017)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:12
1 Video
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaRomanceWar

A man recounts his life, from his childhood through his experiences in World War II, and the story of his self-sacrificing mother, who raised him alone.A man recounts his life, from his childhood through his experiences in World War II, and the story of his self-sacrificing mother, who raised him alone.A man recounts his life, from his childhood through his experiences in World War II, and the story of his self-sacrificing mother, who raised him alone.

  • Director
    • Eric Barbier
  • Writers
    • Eric Barbier
    • Marie Eynard
    • Romain Gary
  • Stars
    • Pierre Niney
    • Charlotte Gainsbourg
    • Didier Bourdon
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    4.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Eric Barbier
    • Writers
      • Eric Barbier
      • Marie Eynard
      • Romain Gary
    • Stars
      • Pierre Niney
      • Charlotte Gainsbourg
      • Didier Bourdon
    • 20User reviews
    • 43Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 7 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:12
    Official Trailer

    Photos103

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    + 95
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Pierre Niney
    Pierre Niney
    • Roman Kacew, dit Romain Gary
    Charlotte Gainsbourg
    Charlotte Gainsbourg
    • Nina Kacew
    Didier Bourdon
    Didier Bourdon
    • Alex Gubernatis
    Jean-Pierre Darroussin
    Jean-Pierre Darroussin
    • Zaremba
    Catherine McCormack
    Catherine McCormack
    • Lesley Blanch
    Finnegan Oldfield
    Finnegan Oldfield
    • Capitaine Langer
    Pawel Puchalski
    • Romain (8-10 ans)
    Némo Schiffman
    • Romain (14-16 ans)
    Zoe Boyle
    Zoe Boyle
    • La poétesse
    Lou Chauvain
    • Mariette
    Emiliano Suarez
    • Le chauffeur de taxi Mexique
    Alberto Maneiro
    Alberto Maneiro
    • Le médecin hôpital Mexico
    Preciado Rodriguez
    • Le réceptionniste hôtel Puebla
    Katarzyna Skarzanka
    • Aniela
    Marta Klubowicz
    Marta Klubowicz
    • Madame Podowska
    Piotr Cyrwus
    Piotr Cyrwus
    • Le policier Wilno
    Jakub Oniszk
    • Kazik
    Klaudia Trafalska
    • Valentine
    • Director
      • Eric Barbier
    • Writers
      • Eric Barbier
      • Marie Eynard
      • Romain Gary
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews20

    7.14.1K
    1
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    10

    Featured reviews

    8pnoronha-60268

    Unmissable

    Absolutely DIVINAL! Majestic interpretations and how history grabs you to the screen is remarkable
    8guisreis

    Great tragicomedy biopic

    Very good dramatic comedy about the impressive life of Jewish writer and military pilot Romain Gary (Kacew), his relashionship with his crazy, controlling and abusive mother (he loved her, but I did not see a so bad mother since Brian de Palma's "Carrie") and anti-Semitism during and before World War II. Quite dark humor for narrating a glorious but tragic life.
    8ingmarbeldman-753-927212

    Too long but toxic jump into the psyche of a ruined life.

    A skilfully made bio-pic with really inpregnating and 'wise' words on the male psychy Production is round and very professional.

    The film is almost entirely told as a flash-back, in which the life of the tormented writer is told in his own words. It is the equally gruesome, as beautifully told "confession" of a crushing motherly love and the destruction of the child's psyche under that pressure. All storylines are more than interesting, the two actors shine, but there is a postponed climax on script level. When it's there - horrific in it's consequences - we are one hour and a half in the movie. And that is too long to keep the attention fully focused.

    The horrific consequences of the destructive mother lie at a deeper level of development of the writer and, in my opinion, should have been expressed less poetically and more realistically. But that is a style choice. It's a French movie after all, right?

    Nonetheless, with great pleasure and deliberation, I have looked at the ode to a ruined life, where the talent of being a writer turns out to be both a victory and a curse.
    7Jorge_Wo

    Difficult

    The demands in the name of love seem too harsh, even absurd. Maternal love is great, and so it is. But I don't think the maternal love in this film deserves to be publicized. The greatness here is entirely due to Roman's success. If Roman did not succeed, is there a circle in his maternal love. Roman's success depends on faith and luck. Mother's love is great, and it's hard to have a second Roman.
    8andrebatucadabsb

    A very good movie.

    A great story, well told and represented. A good movie starts in a great script. French cinema continues to bring us the finest art.

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    Related interests

    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance
    Band of Brothers (2001)
    War

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To prepare the character of Nina, actress Charlotte Gainsbourg admits to have been inspired by her paternal grandmother, also of Russian origin.
    • Quotes

      Roman Kacew, dit Romain Gary: I made the promise to straighten the world and lay it at his feet

    • Connections
      Featured in ACS France (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      The Twins
      Composed by Max Richter

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    FAQ16

    • How long is Promise at Dawn?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 6, 2019 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Belgium
    • Official sites
      • Official Site (Germany)
      • Official Site (Japan)
    • Languages
      • Swedish
      • French
      • Polish
      • Spanish
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Promesa al amanecer
    • Filming locations
      • Bordighera, Imperia, Liguria, Italy(Interior and exterior scenes)
    • Production companies
      • Jerico
      • Pathé
      • Nexus Factory
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,242,157
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 11m(131 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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