Truly heartfelt, genuine, and occasionally even funny, this window of the differences, and union, between children of warring cultures is an essential world documentary for all.

This was a very good documentary. I especially liked the fact that the director does not seek to show his point of view but rather the point of view of the children. True journalism is when u cover a story not get involved in it your self. Stephan Bannon can learn a lot about how to make a documentary from this movie.

It doesn't happen that often to me, tears in my eyes. It really is a powerful movie. I just had the feeling that some shots or scenes were cut away to soon. Like when Faraj starts to tell that he is afraid when B.Z. will leave, he can't meet the Israeli children anymore. This was such a powerful and emotional charged scene, I believe you could keep me longer in this feeling. What I like a lot about the documentary is that I have the feeling that the makers did not choose one side of the story. Both, the Israeli and Palestinian side of the story is been told in different ways. I was pleasantly surprised to not see the cliché images of shootings and stones flying towards the soldiers. I liked to get to know more about this conflict by the stories of (innocent?) children. My favorite scene is when the little Israeli girl, Raheli tells about the Mitzva well she is trying to get two chairs separate. In a way I believe this scene tells a lot about the situation in a very innocent way. It was also hilarious when she talks about her brother and "his" computer... A beautiful, well told dream about the future. I was very glad to see that the filmmakers succeeded in there attempt to connect the Palestinians and Israeli children. But I was really disappointed to hear the children talking about the situation two years later. They admit that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is hopeless and almost lost there hope of ending this conflict. So hard, but true! To end with the shot's of Israeli baby's with a blanket with the words "peace" written on it was for me unnecessary. I believe this is so cliché! And I also had a problem with showing only Israeli baby's. Why was that? Does the filmmakers want to tell that these baby's are the future and have to solve this tragedy? Or ...? I hope that one day it's no longer possible to make movies about this tragedy. I hope this endless conflict will end soon.

I loved the movie, it was deeply touching, the progression and storyteling were very entertaining, the contrast in the stories was vivid and helped convey the message faster.. The kids were brilliant, I loved all of them, especially Sanabel and the twins.. their stories were presented in a normal frame, yet nothing in their lives was normal.. their daily routines, their thoughts and reactions to things like checkpoints and sagregation were both intresting and insightful.. I recommend this movie for anyone familiar with the arab-israeli conflict or not, regardless of their political view of the conflict.

A great insight on a different culture and a focus on a subject so relevant still. To see the observations made by children are always profound and trustworthy because they have yet to understand greed, but of course they're influenced by their families. In a cultural aspect I found it very interesting to see how the two children in the Jewish settlement fell into the gender roles that we are skeptical of in the Western world. The documentary in itself isn't all that great, it's very good, but not one of the great docs. But there aren't many documentary efforts in the Middle East and the fact that they view the perspective of children really lifts the film.

Informative, and by looking through the children's eyes the issues seem so simple; yet peace still evades the adults who have the power to make change. I was happy that it showed how there are different levels of hatred for each culture and these divides within themselves often are what undermine a united voice for change. It spent a long time getting to the important points, and could have been edited for better effect. There was a touching point when the children were all crying together about the tragedies they had experienced. This was the most memorable moment of the film because it puts into perspective that the children are the real people who suffer, and will suffer if we cannot right the wrongs our forefathers have made.

It ran a bit too long, but it was very eye-opening. (What a vapid sentence. You can tell that I need to take a shower and get to bed when that's all I can say about a massively meaningful and powerful movie like this.)

It's overly long for the story that it is, and some interviews are rather pointless, but it shares many important messages and one grows to love and support the children. 65%

By the end, the children are fleshed out and endearingly likable, and their opinions are eye-opening and well realized by the filmmakers. Unfortunately, Promises is undone by a bloated running time and a over-dependence on dull interviews and voiceovers.

I can't get these kids out of my head. This film is incredibly powerful. See it.

Best documentary feature I've ever seen. Instead of miring down into a political debate between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, B.Z. crafts a feature focused exclusively from the perspective of children. His cast covers all viewpoints on the spectrum (moderate and extreme views from both sides,) and demonstrates that open dialogue is the first step towards progress in a contentious issue. Still relevant a decade later.

This movie is just plain awesome! It shows interviews of Palestinian and Israeli youth from different backgrounds, and brings them together. It's a real feel good movie.

Emotional documentary about the innocence of youth in national feuds. Powerful and informative. 97/100

Amazing to hear the Israeli/Palestinian conflict through the words of children (mostly boys). Hopeful in the idea that actual interaction between people could bring about more change than high-level attempts at peacemaking.

This movie is not just a movie, but still a great movie.

so lovely story about a reallity that so much people don't see

Facinating look into this very interesting part of the world.

very good documentary about Israel and Palestine which childrens are thinking and talking

A documentary like Promises works, primarily, on the level of empathy; if it fails in that basic function, it risks becoming a pandering act of moral back-slapping. In that respect, Promises – the documentary that follows around a group of Israeli and Palestinian children – can be considered a modest success. Shot between 1995 and 1998, after the Intifada, the film features interviews and candid moments with children from a variety of backgrounds, though one can never shake the (correct) notion that we are being guided, shown the world through the lens that Goldbeg has carefully choosen, and that if we were able to peek around the corner, to see a truly radical Palestinian family, or if Shlomo had been more forthcoming with his Zionism (or even agreed to participate in the epilogue), it would become something else entirely. The film works best in those moments when it abandons the “children are the future” platitudes, and we are given a peek at the unscripted and unexpected. Definitely worth watching, but necessary to unpack rather than just let it wash over you.

all kids are innocent! a step towards peace is understanding one another.. I pray for peace in the middle east~