Promise Me This (2007) Plot Summary Explained

Živojin, an elderly man living in a remote Zlatibor village, wanted his grandson to find a path to a better life. The old man prayed for Tsane to go to the city, sell the family cow, and bring back a wife. This was driven by Živojin's hope that marriage would bring fulfillment to both his grandson and himself, while also providing Tsane with a brighter future beyond the village.

Foreshadowing: The film's opening prayer establishes the central quest that drives the entire narrative.

• živojin
• tsane
• city
• marriage
• grandfather
• village

Živojin's testament required Tsane to complete three tasks: bring back a wife, an icon, and a souvenir. The money from selling the cow was meant to fund the purchase of the icon and keepsake. Each item symbolized the old man's life and family bonds. Only by fulfilling all three conditions could Tsane earn the right to marry and complete his grandfather's final wishes.

Foreshadowing: The testament's three conditions are introduced early, creating anticipation for how each will be resolved.

• testament
• icon
• souvenir
• cow
• money
• marriage conditions

Tsane met the grandsons of his grandfather's deceased stepbrother. These two brothers were small-time criminals and experts in demolition, but they were also good-natured. Despite their criminal background, they quickly formed a loyal alliance with Tsane, bringing streetwise skills and camaraderie to help him navigate the city's dangers.

Foreshadowing: The introduction of these brothers early in the city sets up their crucial role in the rescue mission.

• demolition experts
• brothers
• stepbrother
• city
• alliance

While in Užice, Tsane met Jasna, a schoolgirl, and immediately fell in love with her. He wanted to marry her as part of fulfilling his grandfather's testament. Their romance developed alongside Tsane's quest to complete his mission, and he became determined to make her his wife and bring her back to the village.

Foreshadowing: The love story begins as a subplot but becomes central to the narrative's resolution.

• jasna
• tsane
• love
• schoolgirl
• marriage
• užice

Jasna and her mother were being forced into prostitution by a criminal gang led by a man named Bajo. Tsane and his new demolition-expert friends became involved in Jasna's family affairs and rescued both her and her mother from this dangerous situation. The rescue was personal and risky, shifting the story from romance to action.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes hint at Jasna's precarious situation before the full danger is revealed.

• jasna
• prostitution
• bajo
• rescue
• gangsters
• danger

Bajo was the leader of the criminal gang that ran the prostitution ring in the city. He was a dangerous gangster who controlled Jasna and her mother against their will. After Tsane rescued the women, Bajo's gang fought back to derail their plans, leading to tense confrontations and a violent clash that threatened to ruin everything.

Foreshadowing: Bajo is introduced as the primary antagonist whose gang will attempt to stop the wedding.

• bajo
• gangster
• prostitution ring
• leader
• villain

Despite the gangsters' best efforts to derail the celebration, the wedding went forward successfully. The village community rallied behind the couples, and the wedding proceeded as a double ceremony, Tsane and Jasna married while Živojin married his neighbor. The group defeated the gangsters' attempt to disrupt the celebration.

Foreshadowing: The tension builds as the group travels back to the village with the gangsters potentially pursuing them.

• wedding
• double wedding
• bajo
• gangsters
• village
• celebration

The double wedding occurred because both Tsane and Živojin were marrying at the same time. Tsane married Jasna after fulfilling the testament by bringing her back as his wife, while Živojin married his neighbor. The simultaneous celebration symbolized the renewal of family bonds across generations and marked the story's hopeful conclusion.

Foreshadowing: The earlier village wedding preparations set the stage for this dual celebration.

• double wedding
• tsane
• jasna
• živojin
• village
• marriage

Tsane fulfilled his grandfather's wish by completing all three conditions of the testament: he brought back a wife (Jasna), an icon, and a souvenir purchased with the money from selling the cow. With the city dangers behind them and the gangsters defeated, Tsane returned to the village to complete the marriage and seal the family bonds his grandfather had hoped for.

Foreshadowing: The testament's fulfillment is the narrative goal established at the film's beginning.

• testament fulfillment
• icon
• souvenir
• marriage
• grandfather
• family bonds