Broken Promise

Not much else to say that hasn't already been said better, but if you like WW2 movies and history in general this can't be missed.

Set in the dark days of WW II we meet Martin Friedman who is a Slovakian Jew. He is a talented soccer player and he and his best friend are in demand at their local club. Meanwhile Hitler has been storming across Europe to leave a stain on the record of humanity. In Czechoslovakia the authorities were at first a bit reluctant to participate with their Aryan masters but slowly came to realise that resistance was futile.The Jews start to be persecuted with the yellow star, confiscations and worse. The Jews are then told of these training or work camps where they can go to feel liberated and of benefit to society; some, despite the rumours, decide to volunteer to go to work in them. In the meantime those that know the terrible truth - or even part of it - are trying desperately to get out. Martin is one of those that volunteers and finds himself in a living hell where the only thing that keeps you from a worse fate is being useful.We go through many stages of his story and there are a lot of players along the way. The period setting and acting are all exceptionally good as is the attention to detail. This is a true story of Martin's life and it makes it all the more heartbreaking when that is taken into account. There is some action - which is done extremely well, but this is first and foremost a drama so please ignore the misleading cover art. That is a drama of the highest quality that I find very easy to recommend.

The only other reviewer of this film has written a hilarious & accurate description of this movie that I agree with 100% The' flaws' of this movie aren't many--mostly its just that the cover and the actual movie don't match well. But as another tale of the holocaust and a young man's survival its well done and worth adding to your/my collection of WWII films certainly. Their is not a lot of' war action' in this film but when the young man finally joins the partisans and they battle the germans albeit briefly, its well done. The brief 'love story' involving our hero 'Martin' is not really integral to the film which is a bit long. The best part of the film is in the special features where the now 82 year old 'Martin' is interviewed at home in Israel. Knowing this is a true story based on a real man and hearing of the outcome of his family is what makes it quite moving in the end.

With this production the audience is spared the true brutality of camp horrors to follow a clear path from a happy family unit suddenly separated to different destinies, to one family member escaping to fight alongside the Slovakian Partisans in the mountains. Being Jewish is a problem at every hurdle, be it with the occupying Germans, their collaborative Slovak policing units, or between the partisan fighters themselves. Not an epic production but a good factual but yet another sad wartime story.

Good film

Very good film. Its great to see the story of the Jews from another perspective. We see the story from UK/US directors very few from other countries. Well directed and acted. Well worth a watch.

Did not like, but then that's just my opinion?good service.

can't remember it