Promise

Versprechen

Generation Kplus 2017

Left behind, a young boy shares the fate of over 60 million children in China, as his parents leave to find work elsewhere. Fending for himself in the mountainous countryside, he finds solace in his parents' promise to return on New Year's Eve, and in the loyal company of a tame piglet. Finally, his parents' home-coming draws near. With magnificent footage, the film tells the tale of an existence filled with unavoidable adversity.

To view this content, you must enable third-party cookies. >

by Xie Tian
with Feng Linhua USA 2016 Dulong 17’ Colour recommendation: 9 years and up

With

Feng Linhua (Boy)

Crew

Director	Xie Tian
Screenplay	Xie Tian, Chu Suming
Cinematography	Fu Cheng
Editing	Xia Liang
Music	Deng Yuan
Sound Design	Benjamin Huff
Sound	David Osorio
Production Design	Xie Tian
Producers	Xie Tian, Fu Cheng
Co-Producer	Aric Coppola

Produced by

Xie Tian

Photos

Xie Tian

This Chinese director describes himself as a storyteller. Whilst studying in the USA, he had the opportunity to meet many different people from across the world. This was also where he had a formative experience, he says: when you meet other people in an open way, look them in the eyes and say 'hello', no matter in which language, this brings out an equal openness in them. These are the people whose stories he wants to tell, and to whom he wants to communicate an idea which he holds dear: let's begin to develop empathy for one another and to love each other.

Filmography

2013 Don't leave me; short film 2015 Big Boy; short film 2016 Strawman · Promise; short film

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2017