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Prophet (A)

Country: France, Language: French, 155 mins

Original Title

Un Prophète
  • Director: Jacques Audiard
  • Writer: Thomas Bidegain; Jacques Audiard
  • Producer: Lauranne Bourrachot; Martine Cassinelli

CGiii Comment

There is always subtext in a prison drama...
 
And, possibly...this is best prison film ever made...
 
The humour is sublime, the violence - repugnant...it is all based on racism.
 
A compelling, hard-edged film that, despite the unavoidable prison cliches, manages to soar way above the cleanliness of Shawshank...

A masterwork.


Trailer...

The(ir) Blurb...

Nineteen year-old Franco-Arab Malik El Djebena is just starting his six year prison sentence in Brécourt. Although he has spent the better part of his life in juvenile detention, this stint is his first in an adult prison. Beyond the division of Corsicans and Muslims in the prison (the Corsicans who with their guard connections rule what happens in the prison), he has no known friends or enemies inside. He is just hoping to serve his time in peace and without incident, despite having no prospects once he's out of jail since he's illiterate and has no support outside of the prison. Due to logistics, the head of Corsican inmates, a sadistic mafioso named César Luciani, co-opts Malik as part of the Corsicans' activities, not only regarding what happens inside the prison, but also continued criminal activities outside. The innocent Malik has no idea what to do but cooperate.

Cast & Characters

Tahar Rahim as Malik El Djebena;
Niels Arestrup as Cesar Luciani;
Adel Bencherif as Ryad;
Hichem Yacoubi as Reyeb;
Reda Kateb as Jordi;
Jean-Philippe Ricci as Vettori;
Gilles Cohen as Prof;
Antoine Basler as Pilicci;
Leila Bekhti as Djamila;
Pierre Leccia as Sampierro;
Foued Nassah as Antaro;
Jean-Emmanuel Pagni as Santi