A Prophet

R

Released Feb 26, 2010

2 hr. 34 min.

Crime

Drama

List

96%

165 Reviews

Tomatometer

89%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

This acclaimed crime drama follows Malik El Djebena (Tahar Rahim), a delinquent young Muslim man, who is struggling to get by in a French prison. When he is taken under the wing of powerful Corsican mob boss Cesar Luciani (Niels Arestrup), he begins performing regular assignments for him, proving himself invaluable to the imposing criminal. As Malik rises in the mob ranks, he gains more power, but also more enemies, a situation that eventually brings conflict with his mentor.

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Critics Consensus

Featuring an impressive star turn by newcomer Tahar Rahim, A Prophet is a French gangster film filled with arresting, immediate details.

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Obada Z

A movie where your eyes are set on the screen for the complete 2 and half hour runtime. I definitely liked the smooth transition - in terms of storytelling - of Malik, from an abused prisoner and a tool in the hands of a prison mob to a mob leader of his own. The movie made me sometimes guess what is happening but in the end the outcome was expected and presented well. I like characters that pick up skill during their struggle. Malik shows how in such harsh reality, you've got to become what that reality is asking of you. Taher's acting was effective and convincing. Some of the camera's work was strange e.g. when only a circle of the screen can be seen and the rest is blacked-out. In such type of movies, I always find myself asking this question: How does the star - in this case Tahar - feels about portraying such character with such background and story?

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

Full Review

TrueBlueReview I

This is perhaps the pinnacle of realist gangster filmmaking, coupled with Matteo Garrone's "Gomorrah." In all honestly it's redeeming to see films like these. Realism, sometimes hyper realism, and serious direction… as fun as "Donnie Brasco" is, the weighted tragedy is just not always there, and the redemption cannot be taken seriously with understanding the gravitas of the tragic nature. Show us a real story with believable characters, and show us how (or if) they remain human. A Prophet does just that in a way unlike most films, let anyone gangster films, I have seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/19/23

Full Review

Pilar P

"A Prophet" is an exceptional film that has earned its place among my top 10 favorite movies. The transformation of the main character throughout the narrative is nothing short of phenomenal. Witnessing his journey from a lonely, isolated individual to a formidable leader within the prison walls, all through his intelligence and tactical prowess, is truly captivating. The film skillfully explores the complexities of the prison environment, where survival often demands cunning and adaptability. The central character's ascent from his initial act of violence is both riveting and, at times, profoundly sad. It's a testament to the film's ability to draw viewers into a world filled with harsh realities and moral ambiguities. In "A Prophet," we are presented with a character who must navigate a treacherous path, and his evolution is a testament to his resilience and resourcefulness. This movie left me in awe of its storytelling and the depth of character development, making it a truly memorable cinematic experience.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/30/23

Full Review

hamid reza g

"A Prophet" is a film that must be seen and enjoyed. An impressive and unique drama from "Jacques Audiard", a respected contemporary French director who has gained a high position for himself with this film. The movie "A Prophet" is a lasting movie with no expiration date. The sequence of killing "Rib" is a masterpiece and unmatched. "Tahar Rahim's" performance in the role of "Malik Al Jabna" is unique and deserved to receive the best actor Caesar, but the other masterpiece of the film belongs to "Niels Arstrup" in the role of "Cesar Luciani". A subtle and powerful game that cannot be found in the current cinema. It shows such power, strength and decline that you will be amazed. This film tells the story of the impact of the environment and society on the occurrence of violence and the rise to power of a cowardly youth. French contemporary cinema is respected and praised, and the south of France plays an effective role in French contemporary cinema. The island of Corsica is in the south of France, and the film's reference to "Corsicans" refers to the Italians living on that island.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Thomas M

The best international movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/26/22

Full Review

dave s

Tahar Rahim makes an impressive debut in A Prophet as Malik, a young Muslim man sentenced to a six-year term in a French prison, where he is quickly coerced into falling under the protection of Cesar (Niels Arestrup), a Corsican mob boss who controls the prison population. It is a bleak and powerful film about power structures and the shifting dynamics within the closed society of criminals. Granted, mid-way through, the plot feels as though it begins to spin out of control and becomes a bit muddled, but maybe that's the point – in a world without rule, there is no way to establish any kind of reasonable structure. Regardless, the handheld camerawork gives it a gritty, realistic feel, the Alexandre Desplat score creates an excellent atmosphere, and the performance of Arestrup is chilling.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Jacques Audiard

Director

Tahar Rahim

Malik El Djebena

Niels Arestrup

César Luciani

Adel Bencherif

Ryad

Hichem Yacoubi

Reyeb

Reda Kateb

Jordi

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Usually, I don't much like films in which males throw violence at any problem that comes their way... But this is such an intensely mature piece of work featuring such intensely mature performances that I was too involved to let it bother me.

Aug 30, 2018

Full Review

Ed Koch

The Atlantic

A Prophet is not a fabulous film, but it is well worth seeing. Although it is 2 hours 29 minutes long and its story is not surprising, it is always riveting.

Jan 13, 2018

Full Review

Amy Taubin

Film Comment Magazine

But with its lush Alexandre Desplat score, deeply shadowed compositions, and fluid, understated camera movement, A Prophet is distinctly an Audiard construction.

Jul 12, 2013

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

A Prophet is not casual entertainment, you have to ready yourself to bear it… overwhelming and at time almost mystical. [Full review in Spanish]

Jul 19, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

An incisive crime saga told within the confines of concrete walls and deprived humanity.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 11, 2022

Full Review

Diane Carson

KDHX (St. Louis)

For an intense, gripping two-and-a-half hours, not a minute is gratuitous as every scene contributes details significant to a power shift of brutal proportions.

Oct 13, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

This acclaimed crime drama follows Malik El Djebena (Tahar Rahim), a delinquent young Muslim man, who is struggling to get by in a French prison. When he is taken under the wing of powerful Corsican mob boss Cesar Luciani (Niels Arestrup), he begins performing regular assignments for him, proving himself invaluable to the imposing criminal. As Malik rises in the mob ranks, he gains more power, but also more enemies, a situation that eventually brings conflict with his mentor.

Director: Jacques Audiard
Screenwriter: Jacques Audiard, Thomas Bidegain, Thomas Bidegain, Jacques Audiard, Abdel Raouf Dafri, Nicolas Peufaillit
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC), France 2 (FR2), Conseil Régional de Provence-Alpes Côte d'Azur, Chic Films, Why Not Productions, Neon Productions, Page 114, Sofica Soficinéma 4, Celluloid Dreams, France 2 Cinéma, CinéCinéma, Sofica UGC 1, Soficinéma 5, Zyzzyx LLC, Canal+, Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC), Région Ile-de-France, BIM Distribuzione
Rating: R (Language|Drug Material|Nudity|Sexual Content|Strong Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 26, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.1M

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