La promesse is the breakthrough feature from Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, who would go on to become a force in world filmmaking. The brothers brought the unerring eye for detail and the compassion for those on society’s lowest rungs developed in their earlier documentary work to this absorbing drama about a teenager (Jérémie Renier) gradually coming to understand the implications of his father’s making a living through the exploitation of undocumented workers. Filmed in the Dardennes’ industrial hometown of Seraing, Belgium, La promesse is a brilliantly economical and observant tale of a boy’s troubled moral awakening.

Disc Features
DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION:
New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised by director of photography Alain Marcoen, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
Conversation between film critic Scott Foundas and filmmakers Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne
New interview piece featuring actors Jérémie Renier and Olivier Gourmet
Trailer
New English subtitle translation
Plus: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Kent Jones

Belgium
1996
94 minutes
Color
1.66:1
French