The Promise
An orphaned girl, driven by poverty at such a young age, makes a promise with an enchantress. In return for beauty and the admiration of every man, she will never be with the man she loves. This spell cannot be broken unless the impossible happens: snow falling in spring and the dead coming back to life. Now a grown and beautiful princess, she regrets her promise, for all of the men she's loved has always been met with tragedy.
The film earned $31.0M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Promise (2005) demonstrates meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of Chen Kaige's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 10-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 1 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Qingcheng as a starving slave girl flees through war-torn lands, establishing her desperate, powerless state before the curse that will define her destiny.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
At 60 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat The truth is revealed: Wuhuan was the true savior, not Guangming. Qingcheng realizes she has loved the wrong man, but the curse ensures she cannot be with Wuhuan. False victory collapses into devastating truth. Stakes escalate as war intensifies., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 90 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Wuhuan dies sacrificing himself for Qingcheng, literally embodying the "whiff of death." The one true love she found is destroyed, seemingly confirming the curse's inevitability. All hope appears lost as destiny claims its price., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 98 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Qingcheng uses temporal magic to return to the moment of the original curse. She rejects the Goddess's bargain, choosing love and authenticity over beauty and power. The finale resolves the war, the love triangle, and the metaphysical battle against predetermined fate. All threads converge as she rewrites her destiny., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Promise's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 10 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping The Promise against these established plot points, we can identify how Chen Kaige utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Promise within the fantasy genre.
Chen Kaige's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Chen Kaige films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Promise takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Chen Kaige filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional fantasy films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Conan the Barbarian and Batman Forever. For more Chen Kaige analyses, see The Volunteers: To the War, The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death and Killing Me Softly.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Qingcheng as a starving slave girl flees through war-torn lands, establishing her desperate, powerless state before the curse that will define her destiny.
Theme
The Goddess tells Qingcheng: "A man will love you, but you can never be with the one you love." This prophetic curse establishes the film's central theme about destiny versus free will and the price of power.
Worldbuilding
Qingcheng is granted beauty and prosperity in exchange for never finding true love. Years pass, and we meet General Guangming, the honorable warrior; Wuhuan, the slave in the crimson armor; and King of the North, the ruthless warlord. The fantasy world's rules, political tensions, and magical elements are established.
Resistance
Qingcheng pursues the man in crimson armor, believing him to be General Guangming. She navigates court politics and schemes. Guangming and Wuhuan's complex master-servant relationship is revealed. Qingcheng debates whether to defy the curse for love.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
The promise of the premise: spectacular wuxia action, magical realism, and romantic intrigue. Qingcheng navigates the mistaken identity between Guangming and Wuhuan. Battles with the Bull Duke and other threats showcase the fantasy spectacle audiences expect. The love triangle deepens with betrayals and revelations.
Midpoint
The truth is revealed: Wuhuan was the true savior, not Guangming. Qingcheng realizes she has loved the wrong man, but the curse ensures she cannot be with Wuhuan. False victory collapses into devastating truth. Stakes escalate as war intensifies.
Opposition
The King of the North's forces close in. Guangming's jealousy and honor conflict. Wuhuan's loyalty is tested. Qingcheng's attempts to change fate are thwarted repeatedly. The curse tightens its grip as every effort to find happiness leads to greater suffering and chaos.
Collapse
Wuhuan dies sacrificing himself for Qingcheng, literally embodying the "whiff of death." The one true love she found is destroyed, seemingly confirming the curse's inevitability. All hope appears lost as destiny claims its price.
Crisis
Qingcheng mourns in despair, confronting the full weight of the curse and her choices. She processes the loss and the cruel irony that her one chance at true love resulted in death. Dark night of the soul as she faces whether destiny can ever be overcome.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Qingcheng uses temporal magic to return to the moment of the original curse. She rejects the Goddess's bargain, choosing love and authenticity over beauty and power. The finale resolves the war, the love triangle, and the metaphysical battle against predetermined fate. All threads converge as she rewrites her destiny.