Sunday, April 11, 2010

"Un prophète" / "A Prophet" - Movie Review (No spoilers)

Un prophète

I recently watched this sub-titled French movie and can heartily recommend it as time well spent. It is a tough, no holds barred, crime/prison/drug/violent movie. While certainly graphic in parts, the story line, the acting, and the direction make this an exceptional movie. I give it 9/10, with the one point drop due to a couple of moments I cannot describe without including spoilers. That said, I think I am just being picky. I think you really should see this movie or you will miss out.

The main actor, Tahar Rahim, is someone who you will see a lot of in the future, I am sure. He also starred a police officer in what is rated as one of the top ten French extreme horror films "Inside" (you definitely need a strong stomach to watch it!!! - there is a plot joke in there...) which would almost make "Saw" look like a stroll in the park for a picnic.

Brief Summary

Tahar Rahim plays the part of Malik a 19 year old French/Arab who, after a childhood of crime begins his first period of life in an adult jail with a six year sentence. He has no friends or enemies and is taken under the protective wing of the Corsican mafioso boss, César Luciani, played by Neils Arestrup. The story develops from there with some rather bizarre, dream-like, sequences that are used to clever dramatic effect throughout, as well as some almost surreal comedic moments. Life in jail is no picnic and the power structures and struggles, along with the survival methods adopted, form just part of a story with many threads that twist and turn as the movie develops.

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