Keeping the Promise

The events unfold in the late 1760s during colonial America, a harsh era of frontier settlement. Families risk the elements, fever, and long separations as they push westward to carved shelter. Indigenous leaders and settlers intersect on the landscape, shaping power dynamics and survival. The narrative also follows a prolonged waiting period, driven by a seven-week promise that defines Matt’s choices.

Set on the Maine frontier in 1768, the story follows settlers carving out a homestead while navigating peril from the wilderness and Indigenous neighbors. The voyage to Quincy highlights the wider colonial world beyond the cabin. The landscapes range from riverine forests to makeshift homesteads built for survival. A frontier life, marked by isolation and seasonal hardship, frames the journey back and forth between Maine and the coast.

👪 Family Duty

A father’s promise to return drives Matt’s decisions and resilience. The bond between father and son sustains them through isolation and danger. The film explores loyalty, responsibility, and the costs of survival on the frontier.

🪶 Cultural Contact

Matt’s friendship with Attean and Sakniss reveals mutual aid across cultures. The story juxtaposes the power of words and the courage of action, as Indigenous leaders save Matt and shape his learning. Matt teaches Attean to read, bridging two worlds through exchange and trust. The relationship adds nuance to colonial tensions and mutual dependency.

🔥 Survival

The family’s split, illness, and constant threat of danger test the limits of endurance. Matt must protect his family’s legacy with a single rifle and a hopeful heart. The narrative emphasizes resilience, resourcefulness, and the will to wait for loved ones against the odds.