PG-13

After the Promise

1987 • 90 min • Drama · TV Movie

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Synopsis

Elmer Jackson, a carpenter in a small Californian town in the 1930s, struggles to bring up his 4 young boys after the death of his wife. He is horrified when the government (citing trumped-up charges of parental neglect) places the boys into various foster homes and institutions, unaware of the abuse that boys would then be subjected to. The conditions imposed by the court and the difficulties caused by the Depression make Elmer's determined and vigorous quest to find his boys extremely difficult. His second wife helps him to regain custody.

Our family guide

Best from age 13

Movie Knight Score

20 reviews

75 Audience · 20 · 100%

In 1930s California, a widowed carpenter fights to regain custody of his four sons after they are unjustly taken by the government and placed in abusive foster homes. Facing hardship during the Depression, he embarks on a determined quest to reunite his family with the help of his new wife.

Violence & peril: 5/10
Language: 2/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 1/10
Romance & sensuality: 1/10
Scary moments: 4/10

Heads up

Depicting child abuse and neglect
Emotional distress and separation of family
The realities of poverty and injustice

What it models well

Perseverance and determination
Unconditional parental love
Fighting for justice
Resilience in hardship

Talk about it after

The challenges faced by families during the Great Depression
The importance of advocating for one's children
The impact of institutional care on children
The meaning of family and perseverance

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for After the Promise. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.