February 3th “A Prophet” (2009, France )

"A Prophet" is the story of Malik (the young protagonist, played by Tahar Rahim) who is neither a hardened criminal (though he is imprisoned at the start), nor does he seem to harbour any secrets in his past, artistic or otherwise. When he is committed to brutal French prison, he is a blank slate waiting to be filled. Malik is not without talents: in fact, he turns out to be supremely capable. His advantage is the fact that he is a middle-man in every respect, belonging neither to the gang of Corsican hoods who adopt him as a gofer, nor the Muslim brotherhood who, given his north-African origins, expect his allegiance. What ensues is both thrilling and – in its cold indictment of the French prison system – terrifying.

Director: Jacques Audiard
Writers: Thomas Bidegain (screenplay), Jacques Audiard (screenplay),
Stars:Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup and Adel Bencherif
For more click here.

Suggested and hosted by Jen.