A Prophet

Winning the Grand Prix at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and nominated for an Oscar as Best Foreign Film, this arresting French crime thriller revolves around Malik El Djebena (Tahar Rahim), an illiterate, non-religious Arab street orphan sentenced to serve six years in prison near Marseilles after scuffling with police. Seemingly more fragile than other 19-year-olds, Malik is immediately cornered by César Luciani (Niels Arestrup)—the aging boss of a Corsican gang—and ordered to assassinate a Muslim. After Malik carries out the killing in a clumsy (if also graphically gory) fashion, the other Arab inmates call him a craven Corsican, while the Corsicans deride him as “a dirty Arab.” Yet Malik eventually gains acceptance as César's servant, exacting revenge on perceived enemies and engaging in lucrative drug dealing along the way. Writer-director Jacques Audiard was drawn to the sociopolitical aspects of French prisons (listed among the worst by the Council of Europe for being notoriously overcrowded and understaffed, resulting in a high suicide rate), which reflect the deep cultural divisions within contemporary France itself. While not for the squeamish (the brutal violence of life among the incarcerated is illustrated through realistic rapes and agonizing beatings), The Prophet is a powerful film deserving of its many accolades. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Jacques Audiard, costar Tahar Rahim, and co-writer Thomas Bidegain, deleted scenes (11 min.), rehearsal footage (9 min.), screen tests with Rahim (5 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a powerful foreign film.] (S. Granger)