Eastern Promises (2007)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writer:

Steven Knight (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 September 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Every sin leaves a mark.

Plot:

A Russian teenager living in London who dies during childbirth leaves clues to a midwife in her journal that could tie her child to a rape involving a violent Russian mob family.

Plot Keywords:

Russian | Diary | Baby | Midwife | Hospital

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 24 wins & 35 nominations

Cast

Josef Altin	...	Ekrem
Mina E. Mina	...	Azim
Aleksander Mikic	...	Soyka
Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse	...	Tatiana (as Sarah Jeanne Labrosse)
Lalita Ahmed	...	Customer
Badi Uzzaman	...	Chemist
Naomi Watts	...	Anna
Doña Croll	...	Nurse (as Dona Croll)
Raza Jaffrey	...	Doctor Aziz
Sinéad Cusack	...	Helen (as Sinead Cusack)
Jerzy Skolimowski	...	Stepan
Tatiana Maslany	...	Tatiana (voice)
Viggo Mortensen	...	Nikolai
Vincent Cassel	...	Kirill
Armin Mueller-Stahl	...	Semyon
Shannon-Fleur Roux	...	Maria
Lillibet Langley	...	Violin Girl
Mia Soteriou	...	Azim’s Wife
Radoslaw Kaim	...	Head Waiter (as Rad Kaim)
Donald Sumpter	...	Yuri
Rhodri Wyn Miles	...	Senior Officer (as Rhodri Miles)
Tereza Srbova	...	Kirilenko
Elisa Lasowski	...	Prostitute
Cristina Catalina	...	Prostitute
Alice Henley	...	Prostitute
Faton Gerbeshi	...	Pimp
David Papava	...	Chechen
Tamer Hassan	...	Chechen
Gergo Danka	...	Junior Waiter
Michael Sarne	...	Valery (as Mike Sarne)
Boris Isarov	...	Russian Boss
Yuri Klimov	...	Russian Boss
Andrzej Borkowski	...	The Gypsy
Olegar Fedoro	...	Tattooist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Diane Beck	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Morne Botes	...	Vespa Rider (uncredited)
Tony Cook	...	Football Hooligan (uncredited)
James Fiddy	...	Football Supporter (uncredited)
Tatyana Lavrentyeva	...	Mafia's Wife (uncredited)
Wayne Morgan-Williams	...	Football Hooligan (uncredited)
Anna Pernicci	...	Sonya (uncredited)
Robert Roman Ratajczak	...	Football fan (uncredited)
Rebecca Reid	...	Prostitute (uncredited)
Peter Rnic	...	Fingers (uncredited)
John Warman	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Chris Wilson	...	Paramedic (uncredited)

Directed by
David Cronenberg

Writing credits
Steven Knight		(screenplay) (as Steve Knight)

Produced by
Jeff Abberley	....	executive producer
Julia Blackman	....	executive producer
Stephen Garrett	....	executive producer
Robert Lantos	....	producer
Tracey Seaward	....	co-producer
David M. Thompson	....	executive producer
Paul Webster	....	producer

Original Music by
Howard Shore

Cinematography by
Peter Suschitzky		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ronald Sanders

Casting by
Deirdre Bowen
Nina Gold

Production Design by
Carol Spier

Art Direction by
Rebecca Holmes
Nick Palmer		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Judy Farr

Costume Design by
Denise Cronenberg

Makeup Department
Christine Blundell	....	makeup artist: Ms. Watts
Stephan Dupuis	....	makeup designer
Luke Fisher	....	prosthetics sculptor: Animated extras
Pauline Fowler	....	prosthetics chief supervisor: Animated Extras
Charmaine Fuller	....	makeup artist
Mary-Lou Green-Benvenuti	....	key hair stylist
Rod Hamlin	....	lifecaster and moldmaker: Animated Extyras (as Rod Hamblin)
Chris Kearey	....	prosthetics head of department moldmaker: Animnated Extras
Waldo Mason	....	prosthetics silicone painter and finisher: Animated Extras
Con McCloskey	....	prosthetics skins and finisher: Animated Extras
Daniel Meaker	....	prosthetics silicone: Animated Extras
Paul Mooney	....	first assistant hair stylist
John Nollet	....	hair colorist: Vincent Cassel
Tracy O'Brien	....	prosthetics silicone painter and finisher: Animated Extras
Lucy Sibbick	....	makeup assistant
Jim Sparrow	....	prosthetics lifecaster: Animated Extras
Dave Stoneman	....	tattoos supplier: Maek-Up
Nik Williams	....	prosthetics workshop supervisor: Animated Extras

Production Management
Lisa Parker	....	unit production manager
Bobby Prince	....	unit manager
Lori A. Waters	....	post-production supervisor (as Lori Waters)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Walter Gasparovic	....	first assistant director
Ben Howard	....	second assistant director
Andrew Mannion	....	third assistant director
Candy Marlowe	....	crowd second assistant director
Jeremy Angel	....	crowd assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Barry Abbot	....	scenic carpenter (as Barry Abbott)
David Abbott	....	supervising carpenter (as Dave Abbot)
Ronnie Bede	....	supervising stagehand
Bruce Bigg	....	property master
Peter Bigg	....	chargehand dressing props
William Bimpson	....	rigger
Kevin Brown	....	art department trainee
Corina Burrough	....	props buyer
Graham Caulfield	....	drapesman
Lennie Clark	....	plasterer
Dean Clegg	....	chief draughtsman
Chris Cockburn	....	plasterer
Stan Cook	....	prop storeman
Chris Corke	....	scenic carpenter
David Creed	....	construction manager (as Dave Creed)
Catharina Curtis	....	art department assistant (as Katie Curtis)
Catharina Curtis	....	model maker (as Katie Curtis)
John Daynes	....	scenic painter
John Dearn	....	plasterer
Mark Dearn	....	plasterer laborer
Robert J. Dugdale	....	scenic artist (as Robert Dugdale)
Robert Dunn	....	plasterer
Peter Edge	....	stand-by painter
Michael Fleming	....	dressing props
David Gibson	....	scenic carpenter (as Dave Gibson)
Anthony Goddard	....	scenic painter (as Tony Goddard)
Lee Goddard	....	scenic painter
David Gray	....	stand-by rigger (as Dave Gray)
Alexis Hamilton	....	props trainee: FT2
Pat Harrison	....	plasterer
Peter Hasler	....	dressing props
John Heayn	....	scenic carpenter (as Jon Heayn)
Leonie Heys-Cerchio	....	art department trainee (as Leonie Heys Cerchio)
William Keenan	....	rigger
Helen Koutas	....	graphic designer
David Lowery	....	scenic carpenter
Micky Martin	....	stagehand
Lisa Meller	....	art department runner
Amy Merry	....	art department trainee
Paul Mitchell	....	supervising rigger
Aeron Montgomery	....	rigger
Gary Moore	....	stand-by carpenter
Richard Neal	....	plasterer
Barry O'Brien	....	scenic carpenter
Roy O'Brien	....	scenic carpenter
Tyrone Greg O'Donnell	....	scenic painter
Micky Oliver	....	scenic carpenter
David Packard	....	scenic artist
Catherine Palmer	....	assistant art director (as Cat Palmer)
George Roberts	....	scenic painter
John Roberts	....	supervising painter
Silvana Rowe	....	home economist
Rolf Snellgrove	....	scenic carpenter (as Ralph Snellgrow)
Warren Stickley	....	key stand-by props
Sarah Stuart	....	stand-by art director
Kevin Swabey	....	scenic carpenter
Anna Thomas	....	art department trainee (as Anna Louise Thomas)
Steve Transfield	....	supervising plasterer
Matt Whelan	....	scenic carpenter (as Matthew Whelan)
Gary Wiffen	....	stand-by props (as Gary Wiffin)

Sound Department
Mark Appleby	....	adr recordist: UK
Orin Beaton	....	boom operator
Rob Bertola	....	sound effects editor (as Robert Bertola)
Paul Carr	....	adr mixer: UK
Christian T. Cooke	....	adr recordist: Canada (as Christian Cooke)
Christian T. Cooke	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Christian Cooke)
Tony Currie	....	dialogue editor
Jenna Dalla Riva	....	foley recording assistant
Jenna Dalla Riva	....	sound recordist
James Gibb	....	sound trainee: FT2
Jamie Gould	....	sound mix technician
Alastair Gray	....	dialogue editor
Wayne Griffin	....	supervising sound editor
Matthew Hussey	....	assistant sound editor
Goro Koyama	....	foley artist
Mitch Low	....	sound assistant
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Anna Malkin	....	foley recording assistant
Rudy Michael	....	assistant adr recordist: Canada
Steve Moore	....	assistant adr recordist: Canada
Michael O'Farrell	....	supervising sound editor
Paul Sacco	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Orest Sushko	....	sound re-recording mixer
Don White	....	foley recording mixer
Stuart Wilson	....	sound mixer
Mark Zsifkovits	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gren-Erich Zwicker	....	assistant sound editor
Tony Currie	....	adr editor (uncredited)
Caoimhe Doyle	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Nick Foley	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Manex Efrem	....	special effects supervisor: Darkside Ltd.
Tamzine Hanks	....	prosthetics mechanic: Animated Extras (as Tamsin Hanks)
Stephen Paton	....	senior special effects technician: Darkside Ltd. (as Steve Paton)
Matthew Roberts	....	special effects technician
Steve Wright	....	prosthetics mechanic: Animated Extras
Ben Broadbridge	....	special effects assistant: dailies (uncredited)
Michael Dawson	....	special effects coordinator (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Barb Benoit	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Dennis Berardi	....	visual effects executive producer: Mr. X Inc.
Kyle Boylen	....	additional visual effects: Invisible Pictures
Dan Carnegie	....	visual effects animator: Mr. X Inc.
David Fix	....	senior systems administrator: Mr. X Inc
Annu Gulati	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Victoria Holt	....	visual effects coordinator: Mr. X Inc.
Noel Hooper	....	additional visual effects: Invisible Pictures
Ahmad Ismail	....	digital intermediate opticals
Mai-Ling Lee	....	visual effects animator: Mr. X Inc.
Trevor Lewis	....	digital intermediate scanning and recording
Chris MacKenzie	....	digital intermediate opticals (as Chris Mackenzie)
Haydn Masuda	....	additional visual effects: Invisible Pictures
John Moores	....	digital compositor
Ian Morehead	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Nick Paulozza	....	digital intermediate scanning and recording
Christa Tazzeo	....	additional visual effects: Invisible Pictures
Jean Phillipe Traore	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Aaron Weintraub	....	visual effects supervisor: Mr. X Inc.
Fiona Campbell Westgate	....	senior visual effects producer: MR. X Inc.
Neil Williamson	....	additional visual effects: Invisible Pictures
Motassem Younes	....	digital intermediate opticals
Bonnie Dickson	....	compositing assistant (uncredited)
Matt Glover	....	visual effects production assistant (uncredited)

Stunts
Lucy Allen	....	stunts
Gary Arthurs	....	stunts
Stephanie Carey	....	stunts
George Cottle	....	stunts
Paul Herbert	....	stunt coordinator
Dominic Preece	....	stunts (as Domonic Preece)
Julian Spencer	....	stunt coordinator
Brice Stratford	....	stunts
Gary Arthurs	....	stunt driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Allkins	....	electrician
Paul Barker	....	rigging electrician
Roy Branch	....	electrician
Catharine Brown	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Tommy Carling	....	rigging electrician (as Tommy Carlin)
Luke Chisholm	....	assistant grip
John Clarke	....	electrician
Andy Cole	....	best boy electric
John Colley	....	chief lighting technician
Kate Cooper	....	camera trainee
Nic Cupac	....	grip
Catherine Derry	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Kevin Fitzpatrick	....	electrician
Robert Gavigan	....	rigging electrician
Victoria Hanna	....	camera trainee: FT2 (as Vicky Simpson)
Darren Harvey	....	electrician
Nick Kenealy	....	production video assist
Ben Kerr	....	electrician
Stephen Lee	....	production video assist
Danny Madden	....	rigging electrician
Vince Madden	....	rigging gaffer
Adrian McCarthy	....	key grip
Peter Mountain	....	still photographer
Gary Nagle	....	rigging electrician
Mike Parsons	....	electrician
David Penfold	....	first assistant camera
Roger Tooley	....	Steadicam operator
Alf Tramontin	....	Steadicam operator
Matt Wilson	....	electrician (as Matthew Wilson)
Catharine Brown	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Giles Keyte	....	additional still photographer (uncredited)
Dave Wells	....	additional grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Vanessa Baker	....	adr voice casting
Brendan Donnison	....	adr voice casting
Christopher Richards	....	casting associate: Canada
Robert Sterne	....	casting associate: UK (as Robert Stern)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kathryn Blight	....	costume stand-by
Christopher Bradshaw	....	set costume supervisor (as Chris Bradshaw)
Viveene Campbell	....	costume trainee: FT2
Nigel Egerton	....	assistant costume designer
Julie Merritt	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Greg Barrett	....	producer: high definition dailies
Tavia Charlton	....	digital intermediate project manager
Nick Iannelli	....	digital intermediate producer
Sandra McCallig	....	assistant editor: UK
Jamie Moreton	....	grader: high definition dailies
Dave Muscat	....	digital intermediate editor
Mila Patriki	....	high-definition preview colorist
Sandy Pereira	....	assistant editor: Canada (as Sandy M. Pereira)
Catherine Rankin	....	negative cutter
Emma Sanders	....	post-production coordinator
Tad Seaborn	....	assistant editor
Chris Wallace	....	digital intermediate colorist
Motassem Younes	....	high definition preview editor
Stephen Bearman	....	colorist: dailies (uncredited)

Music Department
Jon Banks	....	musician: cimbalom/santoor
Robin Baynton	....	second assistant score engineer
Nicola Benedetti	....	musician: solo violin
Tom Bowes	....	orchestra leader
Jim Bruening	....	music preparation
Nicholas Bucknall	....	musician: solo clarinet (as Nicholas Buchnell)
Chris Cozens	....	auricle control systems
Jennifer L. Dunnington	....	music editor (as Jennifer Dunnington)
Bibs Ekkel	....	musician: balalaika
Karen Elliott	....	music supervisor
Vic Fraser	....	music preparation: Global Music Ltd.
Helen Gavriel	....	assistant to music supervisor: Hothouse Music Ltd.
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Robert Hill	....	musician: solo clarinet
Greg Knowles	....	musician: cimbalom/santoor
Richard Lancaster	....	score ProTools operator
Abbie Lister	....	assistant to music supervisor: Hothouse Music Ltd.
Igor Outkine	....	musician: on-screen accordion
Simon Rhodes	....	music scoring mixer
Simon Rhodes	....	score recordist
Pieter Schoeman	....	orchestra leader
Howard Shore	....	conductor
Howard Shore	....	orchestrator
Howard Shore	....	score producer
Jill Streeter	....	music preparation: GlobalMusic Ltd. (as Jill Streater)
Matthew Todd	....	orchestra contractor
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearance (uncredited)
Alan Frey	....	music production coordinator (uncredited)
Jesse Pynigar	....	music preparation (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Clint Bailey	....	driver: marine safety
Gavin Ball	....	driver: minibus
Mike Beaven	....	transportation captain
Allan Bradshaw	....	production driver
Francis Brant	....	driver: prop runaround
Barry Cholerton	....	driver: dressing prop
Roy Clarke	....	unit driver
Heiko Daugau	....	facility driver
Kevin Dore	....	driver: stagehand
Roy Kirkman	....	driver: Mr. Mortenson
Stephen Lawrence	....	driver: Mr. Cassel (as Steve Lawrence)
Peter Mercer	....	unit driver
Charles Morris	....	driver: construction
Enyo Mortty	....	driver: Mr. Cronenberg
Randy Nicol	....	facility driver
Lance Palmer	....	driver: marine safety
Nina Ruhkala	....	action vehicles: GK Evolution Ltd.
Colin Simmons	....	driver: Mr. Webster
Chris J. Smith	....	action vehicles: GK Evolution Ltd. (as Chris Smith)
Jim Stephens	....	driver: Ms. Watts
Llewellyn Thomas	....	driver: camera car
Piotr Walczak	....	facility driver (as Peter Walczak)
Jon Wright	....	facility driver captain
Neville Young	....	driver: minibus
Mickey Davie	....	vehicle technician (uncredited)

Other crew
Philip Arditti	....	dialogue advisor: Turkish
Hailu Asfaw	....	chef: Fayre Do's Location Caterers
Benjamin Bailey	....	location assistant
Daren Bailey	....	marine supervisor
Lauren Barnhart	....	assistant: Ms. Watts
Isabel Begg	....	head of legal and business affairs: BBC Films
Bryony Birkbeck	....	assets representative
Heenan Blaikie	....	legal services: Wiggin LLP
Julie Brinkman	....	assistant: Mr. Knight
David Broder	....	key location manager
Clive Broom	....	unit nurse
Daniela Burcea	....	production assistant: Serendipity Point Films
Ruth Caleb	....	producer in development: BBC Films
Cherri Campbell	....	executive assistant: Mr. Lantos
Diarmuid Coghlan	....	assistant accountant
Ian Creed	....	marine coordinator
Catherine Currie	....	post-production accountant: Katmadhu Productions Inc
Josephine Davies	....	assistant: Mr. Webster (as Jo Davies)
Ken Dhaliwal	....	legal services: Wiggin LLP
Dawn Draper	....	catering assistant: Fayre Do's Location Caterers
Robert Ellis	....	location assistant
Prudence Emery	....	unit publicist
Jane Featherstone	....	managing director: Kudos Pictures
Olegar Fedoro	....	dialogue coach: Russian & Ukrainian
Mike Fidduch	....	chef: Fayre Do's Location caterers (as Mike Fiddock)
Ian Ford	....	location assistant
John Furniotis	....	title designer: end credit roll
Susan Furniotis	....	title designer: end credit roll
Matt Gallagher	....	clearance services: The Clearing House
Andrea Gobbatto	....	travel coordinator
Ruth Halliday	....	clearance services: The Clearing House
Dorian Harewood	....	cashier
Esin Harvey	....	dialogue advisor: Turkish
Jane Hawley	....	production executive: BBC Films
Susie Hock	....	legal and business affairs manager: BBC Films
Mick Hurrell	....	health and safety: JHA safe T
Joe Iacono	....	accountant: Weisbord, Del Gaudio, Iacono
Pino Insegno	....	voice dubbing: Viggo Mortensen
Andrew Jack	....	dialogue coach
Scott Jacobson	....	assistant: Mr. Cronenberg and Ms. Seaward
Carlton Jarvis	....	medical advisor
Deepti Khurana	....	legal services: Wiggin LLP
Samantha Knox-Johnston	....	production coordinator
Samuel Leek	....	assistant location manager (as Sam Leek)
Tory Lenosky	....	production runner: pre production
Susanna Lenton	....	script supervisor
Manda Levin	....	development executive: Kudos Pictures
Sarah Lindfield	....	production secretary
Joan Miller	....	finance manager: Kudos Pictures
Deba Mithal	....	head of finance: Kudos Pictures
Charles Moore	....	legal services: Wiggin LLP
Mark Munnelly	....	auditor
Ben Murray	....	production assistant: Serendipity Point Films
Mark Musselman	....	vice president of business and legal affairs: Serendipity Point Films
John Nelles	....	dialogue coach: Tatiana
James Nicholson	....	assistant: Mr. Cassel
Louise O'Malley	....	production accountant
Joe Oppenheimer	....	development producer: BBC Films
Katharine Otway	....	legal services: Wiggin LLP
James Payton	....	stand-in
Billy Pegg	....	location assistant
Mike Phillips	....	co-production compliance
Kevin Proctor	....	key office production assistant
Marcin Ptak	....	catering assistant: Fayre Do's Location Caterers
Gemma Louise Read	....	stand-in (as Gemma Read)
Hallam Rice-Edwards	....	assistant production coordinator: prep
Judy Richter	....	consultant
Carolyn Rohaly	....	assistant: Mr. Cronenberg
Jim Russell	....	legal services: Wiggin LLP
Wendy Saffer	....	marketing and publicity: Serendipity Point Films
Rory Shaw	....	stand-in
Kerry Smith	....	first assistant accountant
Camilla Stephenson	....	location manager
Michelle Taddei	....	assistant: Mr. Lantos, Serendipity Point Films
Aida Tannyan	....	vice president of finance: Serendipity Point Films
Matthew Vizard	....	production and finance coordinator: BBC Films
Jo Wallett	....	assistant production coordinator
Madeleine Wazana	....	post-production accountant: Katmadhu Productions Inc
Amanda Whitis	....	assistant: Mr. Lantos, Serendipity Point Films
Laura Windebank	....	key set production assistant
Roy Gokay Wol	....	dialogue advisor: Turkish
Richard George	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Gareth Lewis	....	set production assistant: dailies (uncredited)
Zoe Liang	....	additional floor runner (uncredited)
Sandrine Loisy	....	set production assistant: dailies (uncredited)
Barney Miller	....	additional floor runner (uncredited)
Callum Heckstall Smith	....	additional floor runner (uncredited)

Thanks
Bradley Adams	....	special thanks
Russell Allen	....	special thanks
Melanie Faulkner	....	special thanks
Simon Johnson	....	special thanks
Alix Lambert	....	special thanks
Sinead Moran	....	special thanks
Kevin O'Shea	....	special thanks
Lisa Parker	....	dedicatee
Stanislav Shvabrin	....	very special thanks
Kitty Stanbrook	....	special thanks
Logan Van Lessen	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Focus Features (presents)
• BBC Films (in association with)
• Astral Media (in association with)
• Corus Entertainment (in association with)
• Téléfilm Canada (in association with) (as Telefilm Canada)
• Kudos Film and Television (as Kudos Pictures)
• Serendipity Point Films
• Scion Films (in association with)

Distributors

• Focus Features (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution (2007) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2007-2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Bazuca Films (2008) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Eagle Pictures (2007) (Italy) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2007) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2007) (Greece) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Films (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Solar Films (2007) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• TOBIS Film (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Blue Sky Media (2007) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• CatchPlay (2008) (Taiwan) (all media)
• D Productions (2007) (Turkey) (all media)
• Discovery Film & Video Distribution (2008) (Croatia) (all media)
• FS Film Oy (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Nikkatsu (2008) (Japan) (all media)
• Paradise Group (2007) (Russia) (all media)
• Pathé Distribution (2007) (UK) (all media)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony BMG Music Entertaintment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Darkside FX (special effects) (as Darkside Ltd.)
• Animated Extras (prosthetics)
• Mr. X (digital visual effects)
• Invisible Pictures (additional visual effects)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance (as AON/Albert G. Ruben)
• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting
• ARRI Media  camera equipment provided by
• Abbey Road Studios  score recorded at
• Animals Okay  animal handlers (as Animals O'Kay)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Clearing House, The  clearance services
• Cuppa Coffee Studios  opening and closing credits
• DeLuxe Toronto  digital intermediate
• Deluxe Post-Production  post-production facilities
• Deluxe Post-Production  sound re-recording
• Efilm  digital intermediate
• Fayre Do's Location Caterers  catering
• Footsteps Post-Production Sound  foley recorded at
• GK Evolution  action vehicles
• Global Music Service  music preparation
• Goldcrest Post Production London  adr recorded at (as Goldcrest Post)
• Hothouse Music  music supervision
• Isobel Griffiths Limited  orchestra contractor
• JHA safe T  health and safety
• Katmadhu Productions  post-production accounting services
• Location Medical Services Ambulance Services  first aid
• Maek-Up  tattoo supplier
• Mediscene  medical effects
• Midnight Transfer  high-definition dailies telecine
• Offline Editing Company, The  editing facilities: UK
• Post Modern Sound  ADR recording facility
• Production Copier Company  production equipment and services
• Sony Classical  soundtrack
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• Tattersall Sound  picture editing facilities
• Tenon Media  UK audit and accountancy
• Translux  facilities and trucks
• Urban Post Production  adr recorded at
• Wavevend Communications  walkie talkies (as Wavevend Radio Communications Ltd.)
• Weisbord Del Gaudio Iacono  accounting services
• Wiggin  legal services

Also Known As:

Promesses de l'ombre (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong brutal and bloody violence, some graphic sexuality, language and nudity.

Runtime:

100 min | Canada:96 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

UK | Canada | USA

Language:

English | Russian | Turkish | Ukrainian | Urdu

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R | UK:18 | Australia:R | Ireland:18 | Canada:14A (Manitoba) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Finland:K-18 | Norway:18 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Taiwan:R-18 | Hong Kong:III | Singapore:M18 | Portugal:M/16 | France:-12 | Sweden:15 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Germany:16 | Italy:VM14 | Brazil:16 | Malaysia:18PL (cut) | Argentina:16 | Israel:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Japan:R-18 | Thailand:PD-14 | Canada:XXX (Nova Scotia) | South Korea:18 | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Broadway Market, Hackney, London, England, UK

Company:

Focus Features

Trivia:

For the bathhouse fight scene, the scene was choreographed with the actors (not stuntmen), the actors had to train in specific fighting styles chosen for their characters and it took two days to shoot on location in London.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the last river scene, the baby is alternately crying or sleeping as the camera angle switches back and forth.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Azim: He says "Christmas." So I say to him,
[in Turkish]
Azim: "Should we go shopping?"
[English]
Azim: The kid's 16. He says, "But uncle, it's Christmas."

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2007-09-08)" (2007)

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Dark Eyes

'Promises delivered'

"Eastern Promises" will take your breath away, churn your stomach, and then leave you with memories of unforgettable characters as well as perplexing thoughts about good and evil. David Cronenberg's movie about Russian and Chechen mobsters clashing in London is more than violent - it is brutal, savage, shocking. But do not expect just an action film, exploiting blood and gore. After you shake off its terrific immediate impact (there is no way to think while watching it), you realize that "Eastern Promises" is also a kind of morality tale, complex and important.

Only after you hold your breath, cover your eyes, and get through the movie do you realize how "Eastern Promises" manages to contradict Friedrich Nietzsche effectively. The German philosopher's "Beyond Good and Evil" denied the possibility of a universal morality. Cronenberg's film says that ethics - without expectation of rewards, in this life or a possible other one - can prevail even in the depths of great evil. The "History of Violence" director continues his subtle, subtext theme of upholding Anne Frank's belief that "in spite of everything people are really good at heart," and he does so without a smidgen of sentimentality.

There is no goodness in evidence as Viggo Mortensen's scary Russian mobster does every bidding of Armin Mueller-Stahl's chilling godfather figure, ruling ruthlessly over a family, which includes his son, a monster out of control, played brilliantly by Vincent Cassel (son of Jean-Pierre Cassel).

During a pre-release press tour, Cronenberg spoke of his wish to present "provocative, juicy stories... with complexity... showing that all monsters are sentimental and have some kind of relationship to a moral compass." That is all true, but what makes "Eastern Promises" so appealing is that there is no pop psychology (or worse, pop philosophy) in or about it. The film hits you over the head with its magnificently written story (Steven Knight, of "Dirty Pretty Things"), not with a message.

The title, on one level, refers to promises made to young women in Russia, luring them to the West, where the Mob enslaves them as prostitutes. It is one of these drugged and brutalized women whose death opens the film, and brings an English nurse (Naomi Watts) into the story.

As a multitude of promises, threats and tragedies unfolds, you get the maximum out of "Eastern Promises" with minimum advance knowledge of its story. Initially, that is. When you return to see it again, it won't matter that you'll know how it ends, you will want to re-experience what is certain to become a classic film. ("Eastern Promises" was shown at the Toronto Festival last week, opened in San Francisco today, goes nationwide on Sept. 21.)