Promised is a romantic drama movie, directed by Nick Conidi and released in 2019. The movie portrays the story of the Italian immigrants, who migrated to Melbourne, Australia, in the post-war era. It takes the viewers on a journey of love, family, culture, and traditions that collide in a beautiful and dramatic way. The movie mainly focuses on the love story of Antonio (played by Paul Mercurio) and Angelina (played by Antoniette Iesue). Antonio is an Italian man who migrated to Melbourne with his parents in the 1950s. He works as a fruit seller and lives with his family in the inner-city suburbs. Angelina, on the other hand, is an Australian woman with an Italian background. She works as a seamstress and lives with her family in the same neighborhood.
The two lead characters meet at John's Fruit Stall, where Antonio works. Angelina visits the store to buy apples, and her eyes meet with Antonio's. It was love at first sight for both of them. However, Antonio's father is against his son marrying an Australian girl, as he wants him to continue with their Italian traditions. This becomes the main hurdle in their love story.
The movie heavily relies on the backdrop of post-war Australia, where Italian immigrants were struggling to settle down in a new land. The director beautifully portrays the cultural differences, the language barrier, and the struggles that immigrants face to keep their traditions alive. The movie incorporates music, dances, and food to showcase the Italian culture.
Apart from the love story of Antonio and Angelina, the movie also showcases the story of two other Italian couples - Maria and Angelo, and Tony and Rosa. Maria and Angelo are Antonio's parents, while Tony and Rosa are Angelina's parents. The movie beautifully portrays their individual struggles, their love and devotion towards their partners, and how they manage to keep their family together in the foreign land.
Another interesting part of the movie is the inclusion of Tina Arena in the cast. She plays the role of Rosa, Angelina's mother. Although she has a small role, she beautifully portrays the character of an Italian mother, who is overprotective and always concerned about her daughter's future.
The movie also portrays the city of Melbourne beautifully, showcasing its landmarks and architecture. The cinematography of the movie is breathtaking, and the viewers can witness the city's beauty through the lens of the camera.
Promised is an emotional rollercoaster that highlights the struggles of immigrants, their love stories, and their determination to keep their traditions alive. It beautifully portrays the love between two individuals who belong to different cultures and how they fight against all the odds to be together. The movie will make the viewers laugh, cry, and fall in love with the characters. Overall, it is a must-watch movie for everyone who loves romantic dramas, history, and cultural diversity.
Promised is a 2020 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes.
It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9.
