This is the opening scene of Nick Conidi’s romantic drama, Promised.

Featuring a stellar Australian cast, the film premiered at this year’s Lavazza Italian Film Festival and will screen in Hoyts cinemas from Thursday, October 24.

It’s a story that will resonate with many members of the Italo-Australian community.

“In Australia in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, there wasn’t the sophisticated social scene you see today,” Conidi explained.

“The only place where young Italians would meet was at a wedding, at church or at a family function.

“Until the early ‘70s, Australia had a law that you couldn’t serve alcohol after 6:00 pm from Monday to Friday.

“This is why arranged marriages were so common.”

The film is inspired by the director’s personal experience.

“My parents were both Calabrian,” Conidi said.

“My dad had promised me to a friend’s daughter.

“Even though my first impression was ‘Wow, my dad has good taste!’, I didn’t marry her.

“On the eve of my wedding I began to wonder what would’ve happened if I’d married the girl I was promised to, and that inspired the film.”

With zero experience but a great deal of determination, Conidi wrote the script and put together an Italo-Australian cast for an independent film.

Daniel Berini and Antoniette Iesue star as Robert and Angela, while Paul Mercurio and Tina Arena play Angela’s parents.

“Having Tina Arena, took the film to the next level,” Conidi said.

“She kindly offered to be in the film for next to nothing if she liked the script.

“Her parents had an arranged marriage and the story was very close to her heart.”

The film soon jumps 20 years, to 1974, when the betrothed are in their early 20s and have different plans for their future, despite their parents’ deal.

As a web of secrets, lies and revelations surface, it teaches everyone involved that love, like life, can never be perfectly arranged. 

Viewers can admire a reproduction of 1950s and 1970s Melbourne, including historic buildings and the classic brick houses that Italians built upon their arrival.

“We converted a studio in West Melbourne to three or four sets,” Conidi said.

“We also shot in Coburg, Williamstown and at Don Camillo, which is an iconic Italian restaurant in West Melbourne.”

Conidi added that the entire team worked extremely hard to ensure that the film accurately depicted the era in which it’s set, from costumes to furniture and the number plates on cars.

One scene even features an original copy of Il Globo from 45 years ago.

Following the film’s premiere, Conidi received feedback from many who relived their own stories – or that of their parents – while watching it.

While it may seem crazy to some nowadays, Nick explained that it was completely normal back then and not always a “forced” decision.

Ultimately, Promised is a romantic film with a strong message: love will always find its way.