The Promise
East-Berlin, 1961, shortly after the erection of the Wall. Konrad, Sophie and three of their friends plan a daring escape to Western Germany. The attempt is successful, except for Konrad, who remains behind. From then on, and for the next 28 years, Konrad and Sophie will attempt to meet again, in spite of the Iron Curtain. Konrad, who has become a reputed Astrophysicist, tries to take advantage of scientific congresses outside Eastern Germany to arrange encounters with Sophie. But in a country where the political police, the Stasi, monitors the moves of all suspicious people (such as Konrad's sister Barbara and her husband Harald), preserving one's privacy, ideals and self-respect becomes an exhausting fight, even as the Eastern block begins its long process of disintegration.
Director
Margarethe von Trotta
Writer
Peter Schneider, Felice Laudadio, Margarethe von Trotta
Cast
Meret Becker
Sophie I
Corinna Harfouch
Sophie II
Anian Zollner
Konrad I
August Zirner
Konrad II
Eva Mattes
Barbara II
Hark Bohm
Müller II
Otto Sander
Professor Lorenz
Ulrike Krumbiegel
Elisabeth
Pierre Besson
Harald I
Tina Engel
Sophies Tante
Dieter Mann
Konrad's Vater
