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A Prophet
Rating: 9/10
Cast: Tahar Rahim, Niels Alstrup
Director: Jacques Adiard
Winner of the Grand Jury prize in 2009 at Cannes,A Prophet clearly deserves its accolades.
This is the tale of Malik, (Tahar Rahim) a 19 year old French Arab sentenced to 6 years in jail.
Finding himself in over his head initially, Malik is ordered to kill a Mafia informant by the Mob inside the prison - or forfeit his own life.
With no choice, Malik carries out the crime and subsequently finds he rises through thr ranks of the Mafia inside the jail. Pretty soon, Malik is a pivotal part of life behind bars - but soon realizes that there will come a time when he's leaving jail to embark on the next stage of his life.
A Prophet is a sophisticated, restrained and sensitive drama with a wonderful central performance from Tahar Rahim.
It's deeply compelling, richly rewarding and gripping from beginning to end.
Don't be put off by 155 mins running time; every single minute continues to build a richly layered and subtle film which is nothing like you've come to expect from the prison genre. There's little cliché here and with such a well paced story, there's much to lose yourself in as you invest the time in Malik's life.
Sensitive direction from Adiard capture the reality of life in jail - seasons come and go as life continues - coupled with great performances A Prophet soars.
This is a film to be treasured-this is cinema at its most searing; a film which you can't tear your eyes from and one which will live on with you after you leave the theatre.
