Blu-ray Review: A Prophet

A Prophet
Written by: Thomas Bidegain and Jacques Audiard after an original screenplay by Abdel Raouf Dafri and Nicolas Peufallit based on an original idea by Abdel Raouf Dafri
Directed by:  Jacques Audiard
Starring:  Niels Arestrup, Adel Bencherif, Reda Kateb, Hichem Yacoubi, Jean-Phillipe Ricci, Gilles Cohen, Antoine Basler, Leila Bekhti, Pierre Leccia, Foued Nassah, Jean-Emmanuel Pagni, Frederic Graziani and introducing Tahar Rahim.

From the box:

Academy award nominated A PROPHET (2009 Best Foreign language Film) details the gritty prison career of nineteen-year old Malik (Tahar Rahim, 2009 European Film Award Winner for Best Actor).  Arriving at the jail, he is cornered by the leader of the ruling Corsican gang (Niels Arestrup, 2010 Cesar Award Winner for Best Supporting Actor) and forced to carry out a brutal hits.  Over time Malik is able to earn the gang leader's confidence and rise up the prison ranks, all while secretly devising his own plans.

For a few minutes while watching A Prophet I was kind of lost.  Mainly, because I don't have an ounce of knowledge of the tensions between Corsicans/Arabs/French or what drives the animosity between them that is referenced in this movie.  For that reason, I thought I might be missing part of the story, in truth, you need only understand that Malik (played brilliantly by newcomer Tahar Rahim) is at the bottom of the barrel simply because he is a French Arab.  Once you have that knowledge, you fall right in line with the story.

And quite the story it is.  An intense look at life in prison and just what someone will do to not only survive but thrive.  Malik is an outsider in every sense of the word but he finds himself as part of a gang of Corsicans who pretty much run the prison and from then on his life is never the same.

A Prophet is part crime drama, part coming of age, and all great.  It features some amazing performances, most especially from it's young star Tahar Rahim who is absolutely mesmerizing.  I can't wait to see what's next for him.

The film looks great on Blu-ray.  It has a nice grain to it that gives it a more realistic look.  The sound is crisp and clear.  The special features are lacking unfortunately, but the film more than makes up for it.  It makes for a pricey buy but I think the film stands on its own.

If only Hollywood were making movies as good as this one.  The industry would be much better off.  A deep story with real characters that is enthralling to say the least.

I cannot recommend this movie enough.  It's really a beautiful film.

A Prophet is available on DVD and Blu-ray now.