We Promised

Filmmaker Kirsten Johnson turns her camera on her own family, particularly her father, D.W. Johnson, a retired neurosurgeon. The documentary explores themes of memory, aging, and the complexities of family relationships through intimate interviews and archival footage. It captures D.W.'s declining health and the family's efforts to navigate his final years with love and understanding.

We Promised received widespread critical acclaim for its deeply personal and emotionally resonant portrayal of family, aging, and memory. Critics lauded Kirsten Johnson's sensitive direction and her ability to find universal themes in a specific familial experience. The film was praised for its raw honesty and tender exploration of love and loss.

• A profoundly moving and intimate portrait of a family dealing with aging and memory.

• Kirsten Johnson's directorial skill creates a tender and honest exploration of love and loss.

• Universally relatable themes are explored with exceptional sensitivity and depth.

Google audience: Viewers found 'We Promised' to be an incredibly touching and thought-provoking documentary that resonated deeply with their own experiences of family and aging. Many praised its emotional honesty and the filmmaker's skill in capturing intimate moments.

Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Won awards at various film festivals including the True False Film Fest and the San Francisco International Film Festival.

The film uses a unique visual language, often employing home video footage and interspersed with intimate interviews, to blur the lines between personal memory and objective reality.