PROMISED
Australia, 2019, 97 minutes, Colour.
Antoniette Jesue, Daniel Berini, Tina Arena, Paul Mercurio, Mirko Grillini, Santo Tripodi, Sunday Barka Irving, Vince D' Amiko.
Directed by Nick Conidi.
The ‘Promised’ of the title refers to promises of marriage, not by the partners who commit themselves but by their parents, when they were little children, a marriage arrangement. One of the characters hearing about arranged marriages remarks that this happened only with Indian families. On the contrary, this is an Italian Australian story.
Promised offers an opportunity for Australians of Italian descent to look back at the traditions, the family pressures, Italian community patronage – taken for granted in the past, beginning to be questioned by the 1970s. It is also an opportunity for the wider Australian audience to enter into the life of the Italian communities.
The film was written and directed by Nick Conidi, his first film. With his thanks at the end to his parents for supplying Super-8 footage of a honeymoon in Italy, it seems that this is a very personal story, one that he knows will and wants to communicate to the audience.
At first, we are taken back to 1953, a seemingly serene era in Australian society, mellow photography with the glow of nostalgia, the rather proper suits and dresses, family ceremonies – especially with a little girl crying and a young boy putting a toy beside her, and she stops contentedly. This is the moment of the promise, the boy and the girl promised to each other – by their parents, especially their fathers.
There are quite some changes in Australian society by 1969, the girl is at school studying, the boy is being sent to Oxford to study law. But, the fathers with their eyes still determinedly on their children.
Most of the action takes place in 1974, Robert (Daniel Berini) returns from Oxford, his father setting him up with a legal office, and his being taken to a lavish suburban house, to be his when he marries Angela (Antoniette Jesue). How will Robert cope with his father’s expectations? Angela, on the other hand, studying and writing, has a boyfriend who is setting up an entertainment business. She has no intention of marrying Robert, the promises were made by her parents, not by her.
Obviously, by this stage, audience sympathies will be with Angela, trying to explain the situation to her boyfriend, discussing the situation with Robert. His father, a local Godfather, intervenes, with some dire consequences. Angela’s father and mother (Paul Mercurio and Tina Arena) are wary.
Where this film different from many others is that, while the wedding has to take place, the marriage is lived only on the surface – but, quite some emotional complications, Angela dealing with the disappearance of her boyfriend, Robert trying to make some approaches to his wife, some mellowing, some severe misunderstandings, and a reminder that whether the marriage is arranged or entered into freely, the key importance is that the spouses make the effort, take the time, to appreciate each other – and fall in love, the grounds for any successful marriage.
1. An Australian story, the 1950s to the 1970s? An Italian Australian story?
2. The title, arranged marriages, the comment on Asian arranged marriages, the reality of European arranged marriages, the Italian tradition?
3. 1953, the Australian suburbs, the application of the atmosphere, families, the Italian migrants, meetings, meals, a more genteel era? Angela in the cot, crying, Robert putting the bear in the cot and her stopping crying? The two father’s and their decision about the marriage that must be?
4. 1969, changes in Australian society, more open, the Italians, Italians from Sicily, the traditions, patriarchy, the role of the Godfather, helping all the members of the family, making decisions, decisions that were absolute? Angela growing up, at school, the crush on Robert? Robert and his going to Oxford, the dance, his not dancing with her – but the later revelation of his picking up the ribbon?
5. 1974, Angela, studying, writing short stories, chatting with her girlfriend who did not share the Italian background, enabling the screenplay to highlight for the audience the strictures within the Italian family, expectations? Her relationship with Tom, in love, his love for her, his setting up his entertainment business? Robert returning from Oxford? The two families and their talking about the arranged marriage, the expectations? Angela not wanting to follow through, to defy the family? Explaining to Tom? Robert’s return, having a girlfriend in England, his reaction to the expectations?
6. Robert, lawyer, his achievement in Oxford, his proud father and mother, setting up his office, his law practice, the gift of the house when he was married? Angela explaining the situation to him?
7. The intervention of the fathers, calling Tom in, revealing his betting debts, the need for money for his business, the offer of the cheque, Tom’s reaction? Angela finding him with the result of the bashing? Tom, leaving, accepting the money?
8. The father’s intervening, four weeks to the wedding reception, going to the Capri, the old uncle and people looking down on him yet relying on him (and the speculation about his relationships and his relating to the woman, the dancing, close friend?) The meeting with Angela and Robert, the discussion about the menu, their being urged to dance together?
9. Angela, her relationship with her parents, confiding in her mother, their knowing about her relationship with Tom? Her father and his background from Sicily? His later explanations to Angela about his being not seen as worthy to marry his wife?
10. The wedding, the ceremony, the priest, going through the rituals? The reception, keeping up appearances? The marriage night, Angela taking her stands, the separate room, the effect on Robert, drinking? Non-consummation? The travel to Europe? The super eight films?
11. The return home, Robert and his practice, the details of clients, his consideration? Angela and her studies, her writing? Discussions with her friend? The couple keeping their distance?
12. A gradual mellowing, the two talking together, going on a date?
13. The background of the secretary at the office, Robert’s friend and his attraction? The later mix-up, Angela seen the couple, assuming it was Robert, her harsh reaction, especially as they were becoming close? Her leaving, Robert concerned, the possibilities for the annulment, the documents?
14. The revelation of the discussions in the past, especially with Tom? The parents, Robert and his decision to go through with the wedding? His actual love for Angela?
15. The reconciliation, the secretary doing the decent thing and phoning Angela?
16. The irony of the arranged marriage, the rebellion of the younger generation, the plans for alternate relationships? Get the irony of the two spending time together, getting to know each other better, sharing – and the arranged marriage turning out to be the authentic marriage?
