A Prophet [Blu-ray]

My rating is more of a 4.5Thanks for reading!𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒕(𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒏)1) 𝑨 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝒐𝒓 𝒃𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏.2) 𝑨 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒔, 𝒐𝒓 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆, 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓.3) 𝑨 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆:A Prophet (French: Un prophète) is a 2009 French prison crime film directed by Jacques Audiard with a screenplay by Audiard, Thomas Bidegain, Abdel Raouf Dafri, and Nicolas Peufaillit.The film stars Tahar Rahim in the title role as an imprisoned petty criminal (named Malik) of Algerian origins who rises in the inmate hierarchy, becoming an assassin and drug trafficker as he initiates himself into the Corsican and then Muslim subcultures.I’d imagine most of us can think (even in hindsight) back on a time when we visited somewhere brand new and had a feeling that things weren’t quite right. Multiply this by a thousand, and it’s a fair summation of how Audiard came to be interested in making 𝑼𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉è𝒕𝒆 to begin with.Having visited a video-club in a French penitentiary to discuss 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑴𝒚 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝑺𝒌𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 (2008) Audiard found himself enthralled with the prison milieu in combination with unkempt conditions that he hasn’t commented on or called-out with explicit detail.It’s funny the way things work out though, I guess.France is recognized as one of the birthplaces of the modern Human rights movement, and in spite of this French prisons have gained notoriety as being some of the absolute worst in the entirety of Europe. Europe’ CPT (Committee for the Prevention of Toture) have cited concerns related to overcrowding and the misuse of solitary confinement as precursors to forced inactivity (which bars opportunities to show good behavior or earn specific privileges, etc) and inequity amongst incarcerated individuals as recently as 2019 with a high prevalence of recidivism and completed suicides being enough for criticism and a subsequent call for rectification.Unfortunately when Audiard attempted to return to the prison he visited previously (and others thereafter) for the purposes of research he was not granted more than what would be limited access. This isn't too uncommon as a security measure (amongst other things) but this obstacle was perceived by him as indicative of some amount of corruption happening within these prisons that civilians could not acquire knowledge about in any risk capacity. Nonetheless, seeking some level of verisimilitude, Audiard hired people that had been imprisoned previously to serve as consultants on set and for the purpose of filling some roles (like the prison warden), and they were instrumental in a mitigating the challenges of writing, casting, and filming 𝑼𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉è𝒕𝒆 over the course of approximately five years.Though not written to be intended as blatant social commentary, when prompted Audiard has validated 𝑼𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉è𝒕𝒆 as critical of narratives that are most popular in the subgenre of mafia films. In almost anti-Scarface fashion, Malik finds himself with a moral compass that becomes increasingly damaged by extraneous or agitative factors, and because of this many of his unsavory decisions are humanized as the effect of barreling limitations. At the same time, it is never made clear to what extent he believes certain actions to be “right” or “wrong”, but repeated throughout are reminders as to how he becomes literally haunted by the suffering he is complicit in and contributes to and additional reinforcement of the fact that at times ‘no’ just isn't a viable or easy option for him. Indebted to a frequency of Middle-Manned Madness, 𝑼𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉è𝒕𝒆’s crew is well aware of the fact that some of what Malik accomplishes are improbable (like the speed in which he advances through the prison hierarchy, Etcetera) but are potentially a result of Audiard’s research endeavors being hindered as mentioned before.With this in mind, I wish I could find an interview done with some of the people referred to as simply ‘advisers’ or more information about specific narrative choices made that were inspired by this obviously valuable collection of consultants. If I had to guess, 𝑼𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉è𝒕𝒆 likely turned in to a conglomeration of different experiences in prison, and this would explain some of seemingly contradictory plot points.Any review of 𝑼𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉è𝒕𝒆 would be amiss without the mention how how painstakingly nuanced Rahim performance is as the conflicted Malik, and his journey on set is rather remarkable on its own. A little while after signing with an agent in 2006 he appeared in a series written by Abdel Raouf Dafri called La Commune. Dafri went on to write the first draft of the script for 𝑼𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉è𝒕𝒆 and became the common denominator between him and Audiard. After making a two-line appearance in the 2008 horror movie 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 (his only film credit up to this point) he was contacted to audition for the role of Malik. To call this his breakthrough performance would simply be a gross understatement.At first 𝑼𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉è𝒕𝒆 left kind of an odd taste in my mouth: and to be perfectly fair, most Mafia films tend to do. I find them (and them being the character dynamics) frustratingly difficult to follow, and I seldom feel like I'm getting something meaningful out of them as an experience. It's funny though, you know: the way things work out.The first prison gang known to have nationwide ties (In the United States, at least) was the Mexican Mafia (which was established in the 1950s) and membership in penitentiary based gangs exploded in the 1980s following a period of mass incarceration that was initiated so as to be “tough on crime”. The amount of incarcerated people approximated to be in gangs now is fuzzy at best with estimates in this regard being anywhere between twenty-two to forty percent based on the age group being considered, but this has slowly turned into a “chicken or the egg” type of situation given how little is known about initiation tactics implemented that are 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄 to the experience of being in prison.As someone speaking from a privileged perspective (as I often do) I would propose that 𝑼𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉è𝒕𝒆 is as much about life 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 being in a gang as it is when someone becomes enmeshed or coerced into relative activity. For some viewers judgment will come easy, but perhaps it is best to reflect on the circumstances in which gang membership starts to have an overarching appeal; Malik’s fictional life is an exploration of this and then some between socio-economic factors that play into his susceptibility to recruitment methods in combination with any novel sense of community, control, and purpose that higher-level gang association awards him. Additionally, and often underplayed in Mafia-dependent dramas, the difficulty associated with leaving a gang or shaking its influence (Since once you are in the potential information you can disclose at will makes you a tethered liability) is implicated just as much as it needs to be: not more and not less.If you as an audience member can’t relate to Malik in any fathomable way this is your official cue to be grateful and ask what you might capable of doing versus what you suppose you would do given a single day in his shoes.Putting it very simply, with additional contextualization 𝑼𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉è𝒕𝒆 rejects the assumption that what happens in prison simply stays in prison: that gangs made while in a confined state are negligible in the impact they can have on their surrounding communities. Perhaps most importantly (Even if by accident), 𝑼𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉è𝒕𝒆 draws inspiration from a subset of people who often go overlooked as it concerns contributions they could make to research regarding this subject matter, and secondarily demands reformation efforts thatgive the smallest amount of empathy or attention to the people that are incarcerated today.With the way things work out they could just be our neighbors tomorrow.

Outstanding, and a Jimmie Dale Gillmore tune at the end. Who could ask for more?

Jacques Audiard's riveting `Un Prophete' is a stunning piece of modern filmmaking that should be regarded as one of the best films of the past decade; a modern masterpiece if you will. Without a single detail out of place, the film moves along brilliantly; constructing a flawlessly impassioned piece of art.You can feel it as it breathes.The film follows Malik El Djebena, an Arabic convict sentenced to six years in prison for assaulting a police officer. At only nineteen, Malik is illiterate yet bilingual. Almost immediately, he is spotted by Corsican mobster Ceser Luciani who makes him a proposition. He is to kill a Muslim inmate set to testify against the Corsican's. If he fails to do so he will be killed himself. Rather clumsily, Malik does the job, which sets him up with the Corsican clan and soon Malik is building his own internal empire; mainly keeping to himself and playing each and every side he can. Malik is still haunted by his guilt for the murder he committed, which manifests itself in visions and nightmares. Still, Malik is a product of his environment, but as time slips by he begins to establish his own purpose, his own way.The great thing about `Un Prophete' is that it is not `typical' in any way. Sure, it is a prison movie to an extent. It is a gangster movie to an extent. It is a thriller, a drama, a spiritual journey; all to a certain extent.When all is said and done, it is solely `Un Prophete'.The performances captured here are all impeccably raw and effective. Tahar Rahim embodies Malik with a doey sense of truism, understanding how to underplay emotions in order to create a realism about his situation. He begins the film unaware of himself and his destiny, but he walks away from his experience with a fuller knowledge of who he is, and it shows as Rahim gradually builds his character. Niels Arestrup is sensationally good as Cesar. What could have been another generic `gangster' role becomes something deeper. There is a subtle calm about his words and actions, even in anger, that suggested a humanity not often attributed to these types of figures in film. I also thought that Adel Bencherif deserved some recognition for transforming a typical `sidekick' role into a real human being; a real entity within this film.Yes, the film is brutal and aggressive, but there is a subdued nature that permeates the film.In the end I HIGHLY recommend this film. It is intense yet in an understated way. Instead of throwing everything at you in an attempt to control your attention, Audiard and company have layered this film to offer us a look inside one man's journey to self awareness. We may not always agree with his decisions, but we understand them just as well as he does.I have a feeling this film will only get better and better the more times I view it!

This is a difficult film, but worth your time. A young man, half Corsican/half Arab, raised in an orphanage, is sentenced to six years in a prison in the north of France (at least somewhere it snows). The prison is run by an older Corsican man (the actor is amazing) who wields considerable power both in an out of the prison. He takes our protagonist under his wing as his protegé, not out of compassion, but because he sees him as a blank canvas who he can turn into a janitor, an errand boy – and a murderer. A powerful indictment of a prison system that puts naive young men in with older professional criminals. Guess what they become to survive? Professional criminals.There are some wonderful moments, the protagonist turns down a free prostitute for a chance to enjoy a beach for a few minutes in his bare feet, the audience realizing that he has probably never been on a beach in his life. And some unintentional hilarity, where we see that even in a brutal French prison they still get their baguettes delivered.The social themes and messages are subtle. Obviously the difficulty of integrating the Arab/Muslim culture in the French/Catholic host culture is one of the themes.At 2 1/2 hours it took me several gut-wrenching nights to watch, but totally worth it. Acting throughout is wonderful and the ending is well-earned and leaves a thread of redemption and hope. Please give Un Prophete a chance.

I don't think it has arrived yet.

"Wow this is one unrelenting prison movie that's deliberately heartbreaking in every aspect of the way"like they say when you do the Crime you definitely have to do the time,my goodness they haven't spare or left out any thing in this movie,this is real as it gets,you'll see.Don't Even Close Your Eyes. UN Prophète [A Prophet]Runtime 156 Minutes.

Sick!

Excellent service. Product perfect.

The DVD doesn't work at all.