Watch The Promise

The Promise is a powerful and emotional drama series that aired on Channel 4 in 2011. Starring Claire Foy, the series is set against the backdrop of contemporary Israel and tells the story of a young British woman, Erin, who goes to Israel to retrace the steps of her grandfather Len, who served in the British army in Palestine in the 1940s.

The series comprises four episodes, each of which is approximately one hour long. The narrative is split between two timelines: the present day, in which Erin is exploring Israel and learning about the country's complex history, and the 1940s, when Len was stationed in Palestine as part of the British Mandate.

Erin's journey begins when she inherits her grandfather's diary, which describes his experiences in Palestine during the period leading up to the establishment of the state of Israel. Eager to see the places Len wrote about and understand more about her family's history, Erin sets off on a trip to Israel accompanied by her best friend, Eliza. The girls quickly find themselves drawn into the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, and their journey takes on a more profound and life-changing quality.

Meanwhile, in the 1940s storyline, we see Len (played by Christian Cooke) struggling to come to terms with his role in Palestine. He is tasked with maintaining order in a volatile and chaotic territory, and his loyalties are frequently tested as he witnesses the brutal repression of Palestinian resistance fighters by his fellow soldiers. At the same time, he becomes involved with a young Palestinian woman named Miriam (played by Perdita Weeks), and the two of them begin a fraught and dangerous relationship that would have profound implications for their lives and their families.

As the series unfolds, Erin's journey becomes more and more intertwined with Len's story. She meets Miriam's daughter, and begins to learn more about the injustices suffered by the Palestinians in the years leading up to the establishment of Israel. Meanwhile, we see Len becoming increasingly disillusioned with the British Mandate and the role he is being asked to play. He witnesses the bombing of the King David Hotel by Jewish militants, an event that would have a profound impact on the trajectory of the conflict.

Throughout the series, we see the characters struggling with questions of identity, loyalty, and belonging. Erin is torn between her desire to understand her grandfather's role in Palestine and her growing sympathy for the Palestinian cause. Len is torn between his loyalty to the British army and his growing sympathy for the Palestinians. And Miriam is torn between her love for Len and her deep resentment of the injustices suffered by her people.

The Promise is a complex and nuanced drama that explores the deeply fraught history of Israel and Palestine through the lens of the personal stories of its characters. It is a deeply moving and thought-provoking series that will leave viewers grappling with questions of history, memory, and identity long after the final credits roll. Claire Foy delivers a powerful and affecting performance as Erin, and the supporting cast are uniformly excellent. Overall, The Promise is a must-watch for anyone interested in the history and politics of the Middle East.

The Promise is a series that ran for 1 seasons (6 episodes) between February 6, 2011 and on Channel 4