Ma promesse

It's 1939 Poland. Robert Pulaski (Leo Suter) reconnects with Rachel Rubin (Adelaide Clemens). He is deeply in love with her, but she is engaged to another. He is Catholic and she is Jewish. Their first meeting is eight years earlier. She was the new girl at his music school. He was the best violinist until she showed up. Lena (Connie Nielsen) is the director of the school. Celebrated singer Benno Moser (Stellan Skarsgård) recognizes Robert's singing talent. Everything comes crashing down after the Nazis invade. The Rubins get caught. Robert screams for Rachel, "I'll Find You!"

This is a war romance in a rather standard melodrama. It's nice to see Martha Coolidge going back to directing full length feature. The two leads are great although I may like the kids version even more. It's a WWII romance. It feels a bit old, but that's fine. The production isn't the biggest, but it does have some size to it. This is not going to surprise anyone. It's an old style melodrama.

6.5 stars rounded up because it had many good qualities. Presented in the style of a 1950's movie with little violence and without cartoonish Nazis which some may object to. Do not misunderstand, no love for Nazi hatred and violence here. I liked that the movie showed that the Polish resistance began at once and that there were Germans and military officers who opposed Hitler and his plans.

The movie fell short for me in being too unrealistic and having a confusing timeline. We jumped from the invasion of Poland and getting the family settled in a hiding place to spring 1944 with little indication of what was happening to our characters and the escalating danger for all. Everyone always seemed to have clean clothes and the ability to get to the next destination with no issue.

Having said that, I enjoyed the music and thought the actors did well with what they were given. It was a pleasant diversion with some history thrown in.

This story was very touching and obviously the backdrop is incredibly important and powerful and has been and deserves to be retold over and over and over because of its historical significance and cultural relevance.

My issue here was in the execution - too many things that simply did not make sense or were far too overreaching . I also have a huge pet peeve in movies where people speak English with accents when they should just be 1. Speaking the native language in this case Polish or 2. Just speak English without an accent - what is the point of the accent ??? That's a general criticism of all movies that do that .

Secondly I did not feel particularly connected to any characters and the acting was subpar. Thematically it had some good power and I was entertained - but there are SO many incredible Ww2 movies I would pick something else .

This movie is showing value of love, friendship and passion to the music.

Today the war in Ukraine showing us how this value are important for humanity. The war is only tragedy. Did we learn something I strongly recommended to see this movie with families children and adults.

Nice music.

I looooved this movie. Everything! The story, the actors, especially the wonderful Leo Suter. He is the best young actor in the world. I love him in Valhalla too. But Stellan Skarsgard and Stephen Dorff are also in this film, and Adelaide Clemens, who is playing her part in a very cool but touching way. The young versions of the main characters are so sweet - the boy - Sebastian Croft - I looked him up on imdb - he is a very fast shooting star now - not a kid anymore. Also - the music is beautiful. And the set design and costumes. I felt I went back in time to the 1930s. I wish I could see it on a big cinema screen, but I saw it only on Amazon Prime...