The Promise, a historical drama about the Armenian Genocide has opened in the US this week and has triggered a wave of support from Hollywood stars about the importance of acknowledging senseless killings, wherever they may be happening in the world.
The movie, starring Christian Bale, Oscar Isaac and Charlotte Le Bon, is about a love triangle set in the final years of the Ottoman Empire, and tells the story of Armenia’s tortured history – over one million people savagely wiped out between 1915 and 1923.
It has started a social media movement, #KeepThePromise, which is all about promising to acknowledge and remember genocides of the past in order to prevent the same happening again. Some of the celebrities who are making that promise include Jennifer Lopez, Elton John, Heidi Klum and Andre Agassi:
.@RyanGosling @JLo @Cher and others are taking a stand to #KeepThePromise. See @ThePromiseFilm in theaters now. #ArmenianGenocide pic.twitter.com/AdkW5IUfcj
— Intent to Destroy (@ThePromiseToAct) April 24, 2017
I vow to #KeepThePromise ?? 4/21 @thepromisefilm ? @esrailian pic.twitter.com/Z4TzdqPXeu
— Cher (@cher) April 12, 2017
Ryan Gosling vows to #KeepThePromise to help support human rights in #Congo. Will you join him? #RDC @esrailian @thepromisefilm pic.twitter.com/pSDxHMfaIX
— Enough Project (@EnoughProject) April 11, 2017
The proceeds of the film are going to a number of non-profit organisations as well as Elton John’s AIDS Foundation.
The Promise is due to open in cinemas across Australia in May.