A Prophet (2010)
Sentenced to six years in prison, Malik El Djebena is alone in the world and can neither read nor write. On his arrival at the prison, he seems younger and more brittle than the others detained there. At once he falls under the sway of a group of Corsicans who enforce their rule in the prison. As the 'missions' go by, he toughens himself and wins the confidence of the Corsican group.
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Waste of time
When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.
Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
Malik El Djebena is a 19-year-old Algerian-French. He is sentenced to six years in adult prison. He is alone and gets picked on. The prison population is split between whites Corsicans and Muslims. Ruthless Corsican mobster Cesar Luciani forces Malik to kill Muslim witness Reyeb. Despite being a Muslim himself, Luciani takes Malik in as a lowly grunt under his protection.This is a French prison personal epic. It is one of the better prison movies around. The only drawback for me is that I don't really root for Malik and Tahar Rahim never got my sympathies. I don't think the movie gives him the opportunity. I'm a little detached from his character. Nevertheless, this is a good tough prison movie.
I have never seen a prison movie which is so close to the reality of the level of real violence in a prison since 'American Me'-1992(Edward James Olmos.The way the protagonist is sent to prison for a low-level offence and is in reality a nobody, and becomes one of the top-dogs running with the Corsican and Arab Mafia, is a believable story.The brilliant acting by Tahir Rahim in the lead role launched his career in the US and he seems to have stalled on any decent roles since 'The Eagle'-2011 but it would be good to see him in a lead role soon.The film itself is riveting and the way it draws you into Malik's world with twists and turns, you never know what's coming next until it hits you in the face! Brilliantly made and a must see.
People love a movie if there is at least one character deeply falling in love and another character to hate. You will find both of these characters in this masterpiece from the director Jacques Audiard. Terrific performances from Malik (Tahar Rahim) and Luciani (Niels Arestrup). The relationship between Malik and Luciani reminded me of another duo of Luis Tomar and Alberto Ammann from the prison drama "Cell 211". This movie has everything in the process of an alone and illiterate 19 year old French guy of Algerian descent entering to the prison to becoming a mafia kingpin when he returns after 6 years.Every time someone asks Malik El Djebena whom does he work for, he answered "I work for me". You will realize after the ending why does he say that.
I created this account alone to comment on this film, as through recent months of watching films, I purchased this DVD as an additive to my shelf collection. Let me say this film deserves its own shelf. I really have not been blown away from a film like this in quite a while. Expecting another repeated prison movie perhaps focusing on prison life themes not focused on in the likes of Shawshank Redemption. (Which I am not a big fan of and feel is one of the most over rated films of all time). While perhaps "A Prophet" is not the most original film in terms of storyline, a rising gang member facing racial confrontations from all sides and never truly belonging anywhere. It offers something I can't quite describe in words. The acting is impeccable, Tahar Rahim is amazing, never slipping of his public facade and private duties, he transforms Malik into one of the most manipulative yet remaining likable characters of all time. "I work for myself" and he really did, throughout for himself. Though constantly he had me believing otherwise. His decisive yet well thought out actions make him so believable to the heights he achieves. The internal racial conflicts is never exaggerated, never loses its genuine touch and is loyal to mundane prison reality. It stands alone as easily Greatest Prison Film I have ever seen. ( I have seen a few.) If you are not a fan of foreign films and despise subtitles, understand I was once like you, but if you remain this way you lose out on this and many other of the true cinematic greats.