Aedonerre I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.

Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Cissy Évelyne It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

mjohnson-59927 My wife recently downloaded this as a box set and watching it again reconfirms my belief that this is the most important television drama of the decade.Inevitably given its subject, there are bound to be those who do not agree with or accept its premise, the plot, the direction, the acting etc etc.They are simply wrong and angry that it does not confirm their own preconceptions rather than judging it on its merits.It is an interpretation of events from one point of view and there could and should be others. It is nonetheless gut wrenchingly effective, emotionally compelling, well scripted, brilliantly acted and directed.So much TV drama in recent years is anodyne, politically neutered, action packed hokum or crime led escapism. This is the antidote, challenging and compelling.The Promise is a remarkable and memorable work of art that happens to be television drama. Nothing is ever perfect and there is a clear directorial stance (or bias, if you prefer) but it has huge ambition and succeeds triumphantly on its own terms while carrying a mighty punch.Find it, watch it and decide for yourself.

siholdam Never mind the cinematic problem with switching between time periods, instead focus on the problem of offering up an interpretation of history this is stewed in contemporary sensibilities. No wonder hate crimes against Jewish people have increased - this biased portrayal helps to explain why. It was laboured and obvious - though the amazing coincidences made it more Alice in Wonderland than Alice attempting to illustrate how the Israeli's just following orders... the one sided attempt to portray Jews as little better than Nazi's was crude and inaccurate. The other reviews on here suggesting it was "historically accurate" need to take a closer look at history, or try dropping the one sided interpretation. It's a shame the director did not do the same before making this film... oh hang on, it wouldn't have been made if it didn't portray Jews as the victims turned villains. I am no defender of the Zionist position on the occupied territories - it is an illegal occupation - but this series lacked balances and that makes it part of the myth making that fuels hate.

pensman Most Americans are most likely unfamiliar with the creation of Israel after WW II. This series offers some historical perspective to what is usually seen as a single point of view: Jewish refugees trying to establish a homeland after surviving the Nazi death camps (the good); the Arabs (Palestinians) trying to keep them out (the bad); and the British troops trying to maintain a tenuous peace (the ugly). As usual, the real story is various shades of grey. This series is presented somewhat through the eyes of Erin Matthews, a twenty year old who is spending part of her gap year--year between finishing what we think of as high school and starting college--with her friend Eliza who is a British Jew who returns to Israel to begin her national service. Erin discovers before leaving England her grandfather's diary which tells his story as a sergeant in the British army serving in Palestine during the 1940's. The story moves back and forth between the story of her grandfather, Len Matthews, and her experiences in Israel as she reads and tries to follow through on his story as related in the diary. In this telling it is made clear that the Jewish refugees are intent on creating a homeland regardless of the cost in life to the Palestinians or British troops. As a result, Len Matthews who began his service in sympathy with the Jews finds his feelings change as a result of his experiences. And Erin also finds that in the present day the assumptions she has been brought up with are now being challenged by experience. I personally found Len's story quite compelling and in part due to the fine acting of Christian Cooke as Len; and while Erin's story is also arresting, Claire Foy's Erin is a somewhat irritating and an unsympathetic character. Almost obnoxious. However, the large cast does an excellent job and there is no way you can watch one segment of the series and not feel compelled to watch the subsequent episodes. While I find the story well balanced in trying to show the larger picture, I am sure some will be upset to find that the Israelis are not depicted as the completely good guy underdogs of history. But if you want a better understanding of the current unrest in the Middle East then this is both an entreating and illuminating series.

D Damen For a person who has been to the places that Kosminsky had shot, this piece of work is certainly worth the praise and had pushed me to write my first review on IMDb.This outstanding piece of work, especially in photography and editing, indeed moves different audiences. The analogy between the past and the presence presents a different approach to seeing the Palestinian cause, especially from a foreigner's point of view.The director is first a true historian, then a talented artist and finally an outstanding director. I sent this series to all of my family and friends as a must-watch.