A Promise Is A Promise

The film is based on a true story, inspired by the touching real-life events of the 1993 (01) class of the Fruit Tree Department at Hebei Agricultural University, whose students took care of their late classmate’s parents for 15 years. After the sudden passing of Li Baoyang in his youth due to illness, his classmates—unrelated by blood but bound by love—make a lasting promise to honor his memory and care for his aging parents as their own, embodying the spirit of “treating others’ elders as one’s own.” Their 15-year journey of devotion is tied together by a bet between Liu Qu’er, a man hardened by life’s harsh realities, and a village chief who still believes in kindness and trust. Though Liu Qu’er ultimately loses the bet, he stands on stage singing, “A promise worth a thousand gold.” This moving story of commitment and compassion became a symbol of “Good Deeds in Hebei,” echoing across the land and warming countless hearts.

Directed by Huilei Ma, A Promise Is A Promise leans on a strong ensemble — Huang Ailing, Genyi Yu, Li Rui Chao — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2012.