UN PROPHÈTE / A Prophet

Showed at Images 2/6/2012

Starring: Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup

Malik, the 19-year-old French-Arab criminal enters prison as an uneducated naïf. But by the time he leaves jail, he will know how to read — and how to kill. Jacques Audiard’s intricate study of the bloody rules and rituals behind bars never once glorifies the shocking violence that becomes a rite of passage for Malik, who, friendless, feels he must do the savage bidding of a ferocious Corsican crime boss in exchange for protection. Instead, the director (sometimes referred to as the “French Scorsese”) examines prison as its own specific social system, its corruption, cronyism, and racism a reflection of France at large.

  • Director: Jacques Audiard
  • Rating: R
  • Runtime: 2 hours 29 minutes
  • Genre: Drama

“Essential viewing for art-film buffs and crime-flick fans, but also for anyone who's looking for a great story, terrific acting and masterful filmmaking.”

– St. Louis Post-Dispatch