Best movies like A Promise to Keep
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Middle class parents, who already have three kids, take in their four orphaned nephews.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 90
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags:
Best tv shows and movies like A Promise to Keep (1990):
Similar in 84%
Marin Blue (2009)
Plot Summary:
Indie film about two outsiders.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 321
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 77 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 90%
Redemption of the Ghost (2002)
Plot Summary:
When convicted embezzler Witt Hampton (Gene Bicknell) escapes from prison, a lonely barn serves as the perfect hideout -- until a pair of tykes stumbles on him. Telling the tots he's a ghost, Witt strikes up a friendship with the pair. Soon, inspired by their innocence, he decides to take responsibility for his crimes. Too bad the local sheriff isn't quick to forgive in this family drama co-starring, Diane Ladd, Rachel Hunter and John Savage.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 234
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 85%
The True-Hearted (1992)
Plot Summary:
The film illustrates classical Beijing Opera in different generations and the boy’s process of growing-up.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 45
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: China
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 89%
Journey of the Heart (1997)
Plot Summary:
Janice is the subject of the town gossips for four reasons: she wears too much lipstick, her hair is too big, she is a single-mother and her two children are strange. Ray (6) is a hellraiser and Tony (9) is autistic. One day, however, Tony sits down at the piano and plays Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Janice knows there may be hope for him (and them) yet.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 252
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 79%
Brother (2022)
Plot Summary:
Sons of Caribbean immigrants, Francis and Michael face questions of masculinity, identity and family amid the pulsing beat of Toronto's early hip-hop scene. A mystery unfolds when escalating tensions set off a series of events which changes the course of the brothers’ lives forever.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 928
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: Canada
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 81%
Money Buys Happiness (1999)
Plot Summary:
A man and a woman, unpleasant bickering nitwits both, push a big stupid metaphor (in the shape of a piano) across Seattle.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 39
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: spiritual
Similar in 78%
Tango Argentino (1992)
Plot Summary:
A boy who is helping lonely, elderly people revives their urge to live and receives in return their love and understanding, which have been denied to him by his parents.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 849
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: pre war
Similar in 89%
Sweet Thing (2020)
Plot Summary:
For Billie and Nico, life with their father is a roller-coaster ride of playfulness and unease. When he is in the grip of alcohol, tears flow and their apparently idyllic family life collapses. Their mostly absent and irresponsible mother is not much help either. But their friendship with Malik, a boy of Billie’s age, frees them from their shackles. Together they embark on a journey full of intense moments of freedom. The colourful, emotional world of the three young people is depicted in kaleidoscopic black and white imagery, which opens space for their own notions of childhood. Alexandre Rockwell's tale portrays a profound sense of solidarity and deep love: for cinema and Billie Holiday, and also for risk and adventure.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: captivating, black and white, entertaining
Similar in 75%
The Wizard of Loneliness (1988)
Plot Summary:
A family drama.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 283
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 77%
Blind Man's Bluff (1993)
Plot Summary:
Based on a novel by Lilly Perry Amitai, Blind Man's Bluff takes a bittersweet look at the life of a young Israeli woman. Trying to distance herself from her Holocaust survivor parents and ex-boyfriend, pianist Micki Stav moves out of her parents' house in search of her own identity. She moves into a small apartment but remains caught in a lattice of demanding relationships. Tension increases as Micki tries to succeed in the classical music world. Her eclectic new neighbors, though, introduce her to a new world of desires in which Micki finds the courage to confront her problems and emerge as an independent and mature woman.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 13
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: Israel
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 79%
The Touch (1992)
Plot Summary:
Henry Kesdi is a silenced classical composer and a survivor of the Holocaust. He is coaxed out from retirement by an inspired musicologist, Stefan, who convinces him to compose a complex symphony on his neglected piano. As a help Kesdi gets his new musical secretary. His loyal wife reluctantly accepts her as his young lover.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 307
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: Poland, UK, Denmark
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 80%
An Unexpected Life (1998)
Plot Summary:
Sequel to "An Unexpected Family.".
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 207
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 85%
Hadi Be Oglum (2018)
Plot Summary:
Ali, a fisherman, devoted his life to his young son, Efe. Efe was the only son of Ali who was in this life. Efe is different from other children. Efe, who has a communication problem, is not a child who can laugh and play and react to what he hears. As Ali tries to bond with his son, he runs into many barriers in communtion with him, and Ali's greatest wish is to know that his son understands him. The plot evolves around a father who loves his son dearly but going thru many struggles to create communication channels with his who carries the burden of the memories of his father, his mother and the woman he loves, will shape the life of both.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama
Country: Turkey
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: emotional, sentimental, captivating, realistic
Similar in 87%
Endings (2010)
Plot Summary:
Emmy Ferguson is a 10-year old who learns that, after a long bout with leukemia, today is probably her last day on earth. Chris Ryan is a 35-year-old drug addict who is determined to make this his last day. And Adonna Frost, suffering from advanced breast cancer, has made a similar decision about the end of her life. They are all strangers to each other, but as Emmy embarks on a strange journey, and as the day's events bring these three dying people together, through Emmy's unique point of view, their lives are changed forever.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 30
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 88%
The Shadow Box (1980)
Plot Summary:
Over the course of a day in a California hospice, three terminally ill patients are observed with their families reflecting on life and death. Adapted for television from the award-winning play by Michael Cristofer.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 232
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 90%
Mum's List (2016)
Plot Summary:
A dying mother's life lessons to the husband and sons she left behind. Based on the best-selling novel by St John (Singe) Greene, the film is the story of Singe and Kate, a couple from North Somerset, whose lives were turned upside down when Kate was diagnosed with an incurable breast cancer. Over her last few days, she created her list: writing her thoughts and memories down, to help the man she loved create the best life possible for their two sons, after she was gone.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 909
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: touching, psychological, sincere, sentimental, thought provoking, tear jerker, visually appealing, tearjerker
Similar in 85%
Who Will Love My Children? (1983)
Plot Summary:
Based on a true story of Iowa farm wife Lucile Fray. Ann-Margret plays a dying mother of ten whose last wish is to find loving families for her children.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 629
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: depressing
Similar in 79%
Umbrella (2016)
Plot Summary:
Alexander Way, a secondary school teacher with a fractured personal life, finds himself attempting to rescue a woman from a violent sexual attack. Alexander finds himself overpowered, beaten & taken to hospital. Jesiah Jarvus, a famous British musician who is frequently touring, has lost his goal in life. Having not spoken with his father in over 20 years, troubling news offers them the chance to reconcile & move forward in both their lives. Theodore Smith attempts to bury the sadness that threatens to engulf his childhood upon hearing the news that his parents will be separating. Elethea Conall, a newly qualified nurse, continues to look after her patients whilst attempting to escape from her past. What do they all have in common?.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 16
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: psychological, sentimental, touching, captivating, independent film
Similar in 79%
Light of Day (1987)
Plot Summary:
Fox and Jett play a brother and sister who are lead performers in a rock band, The Barbusters, in Cleveland, Ohio. The sister, Patti Rasnick, is an unmarried mother and has a troubled relationship with her own mother, who is deeply religious. Estranged from her parents and struggling to make ends meet, Patti decides to dive headlong into a carefree rock music lifestyle. The brother, Joe Rasnick, pulls away from rock music to provide some stability for his young nephew. It takes a family crisis to bring Patti back home and force her to face the prickly past with her mother.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: touching, independent film, sincere, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, freeze frame, light, road movie
Similar in 88%
Prodigy (2007)
Plot Summary:
Naruse Uta is a "unique" 13 year old child. She possessed the talent to read sheet music even before she could speak, but has now come to the point where she hates playing the piano. Her father was also a piano virtuoso, but mysteriously disappeared from her life at a young age. Because of her father's disappearance Uta's mother had to move out of their posh home and into a far modest working class neighborhood. In this working class neighborhood there is a local grocer. The grocer's son Kikuna Oto happens to be a budding musician, but lacks the drive to truly succeed. That is until Uta Naruse comes into his life.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 231
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: Japan
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, sincere, touching
Similar in 76%
Duet for One (1986)
Plot Summary:
When Stephanie, a famous violinist, contracts multiple sclerosis her life begins to fall apart. Her career ends, her husband leaves her for another woman and her favorite pupil leave the country. Unable to bear all this loss, Stephanie attempts suicide.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 998
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: sincere, serious, touching, emotional, realistic, depressing, independent film
Similar in 83%
A Time for Dancing (2002)
Plot Summary:
Their love of dance, and their friendship, is challenged for two high school girls when one is diagnosed with cancer.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 952
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: sincere, emotional, sentimental, touching, sad, serious, realistic
Similar in 77%
The Cat and the Moon (2019)
Plot Summary:
Nick comes to New York to temporarily live with a jazz musician friend of his late father's named Cal while his mom is in rehab. During his time in the city, he befriends a group of kids who show him what New York has to offer.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 569
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 114 min
Plot tags: captivating, psychological, unusual plot structure, suspense, melancholic, contemplative
Similar in 89%
The Mambo Kings (1992)
Plot Summary:
The Mambo Kings tells the story of César and Nestor Castillo, brothers and aspiring musicians who flee from Cuba to America in search of the American Dream.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: France, USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: sentimental, emotional, melancholic, serious, realistic, touching, captivating, fairy tale, romantic, sexy
Similar in 78%
August Rush (2007)
Plot Summary:
A drama with fairy tale elements, where an orphaned musical prodigy uses his gift as a clue to finding his birth parents.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 110000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA, South Korea
Duration: 114 min
Plot tags: touching, inspirational, sentimental, feel good, romantic, sad, emotional, spiritual, crying, thought provoking
Similar in 78%
Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
Plot Summary:
In 1965, passionate musician Glenn Holland takes a day job as a high school music teacher, convinced it's just a small obstacle on the road to his true calling: writing a historic opus. As the decades roll by with the composition unwritten but generations of students inspired through his teaching, Holland must redefine his life's purpose.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 41000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 143 min
Plot tags: inspirational, emotional, touching, sentimental, sincere, serious, realistic, dramatic, sad, motivational
Similar in 88%
Cavedweller (2004)
Plot Summary:
A traumatic event sends a musician (Sedgwick) back to her hometown in an effort to reunite with the daughters she abandoned. To do so, she must confront her abusive ex-husband (Quinn), from whom she fled years ago.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 707
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: psychological, captivating, disturbing, sexy
Similar in 90%
Things Behind the Sun (2001)
Plot Summary:
A young music journalist's dark memories are awakened when he goes to interview a female rock singer, and both are forced to confront troubling secrets from their pasts.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: sincere, serious, emotional, realistic, erotic, cult classic, talky, gloomy, independent film, masterpiece
Similar in 90%
Hounddog (2007)
Plot Summary:
A drama set in the American South, where a precocious, troubled girl finds a safe haven in the music and movement of Elvis Presley.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: disturbing, touching, serious, stylized, controversial, crying, erotic, gothic, sad, teen
Similar in 88%
Lackawanna Blues (2005)
Plot Summary:
In a story fueled by rhythm and blues, a young boy's life is shaped by love and the stories of a cast of characters in the boarding house where he lives in 1960s Lackawanna, New York.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, realistic, sincere, sentimental, captivating, crying, hispanic, entertaining