An earnest story that fails to come alive

OSCAR Isaac in The Promise is humble apothecary Michael Boghosian from a southern Turkey village, who arrives in the cosmopolitan capital of Constantinople to begin his medical studies.

He becomes smitten with Ana Khesarian (French actress Charlotte Le Bon), the Paris-educated governess of his nieces, a fellow Armenian.

Ana already has a boyfriend in American photojournalist Chris Myers, played by a broody Christian Bale; Michael himself is betrothed to a hometown girl (Angela Sarafyan).