Claim: Naomi Watts was in a movie.

Eastern Promises is a 2007 British-Canadian-American gangster film directed by David Cronenberg , from a screenplay written by Steven Knight . The film stars Viggo Mortensen , Naomi Watts , Vincent Cassel , and Armin Mueller-Stahl . It tells a story of a Russian-British midwife , Anna -LRB- Watts -RRB- , who delivers the baby of a drug-addicted 14-year old Russian prostitute who dies in childbirth . After Anna learns that the teen was lured into prostitution by the Russian Mafia in London , the leader of the Russian gangsters -LRB- Mueller-Stahl -RRB- threatens the baby 's life to keep Anna from telling the police about their sex trafficking ring . As Anna tries to protect the baby , she is enmeshed deeper into the criminal underworld , and she is threatened by the Mafia leader 's son -LRB- Cassel -RRB- and warned off by the son 's strong-arm man -LRB- Mortensen -RRB- .   Principal photography began November 2006 , in locations in and around London . The film has been noted for its plot twist , the subject of sex trafficking , and for its violence and realistic depiction of Russian career criminals , which includes detailed portrayal of the tattoos which indicate their crimes and criminal status . Eastern Promises received positive critical reception , appearing on several critics ' `` top 10 films '' lists for 2007 . The film has won several awards , including the Audience Prize for best film at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Best Actor award for Mortensen at the British Independent Film Awards . The film received twelve Genie Award nominations and three Golden Globe Award nominations . Mortensen was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor .