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    A Prophet

    Original title: Un prophète
    • 20092009
    • RR
    • 2h 35min
    IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    95K
    YOUR RATING
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    Tahar Rahim in Un prophète (2009)
    A young Arab man (Rahim) serving time in a French prison transforms into a mafia kingpin.
    Trailer2:08
    10 Videos
    45 Photos
    CrimeDrama

    A young Algerian man is sent to a French prison.A young Algerian man is sent to a French prison.A young Algerian man is sent to a French prison.A young Algerian man is sent to a French prison.A young Algerian man is sent to a French prison.

    • Director
      • Jacques Audiard
    • Writers
      • Thomas Bidegain(screenplay)
      • Jacques Audiard(screenplay)
      • Abdel Raouf Dafri(original screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Tahar Rahim
      • Niels Arestrup
      • Adel Bencherif
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Jacques Audiard
    • Writers
      • Thomas Bidegain(screenplay)
      • Jacques Audiard(screenplay)
      • Abdel Raouf Dafri(original screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Tahar Rahim
      • Niels Arestrup
      • Adel Bencherif
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 171User reviews
    • 267Critic reviews
    • 90Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 52 wins & 55 nominations total

    Videos10

    A Prophet
    Trailer 2:08
    A Prophet
    A Prophet: International Trailer
    Trailer 1:21
    A Prophet: International Trailer
    A Prophet (Clip 7 of 9)
    Clip 1:20
    A Prophet (Clip 7 of 9)
    A Prophet (Clip 9 of 9)
    Clip 1:29
    A Prophet (Clip 9 of 9)
    A Prophet (Clip 8 of 9)
    Clip 0:59
    A Prophet (Clip 8 of 9)
    A Prophet (Clip 6 of 9)
    Clip 1:03
    A Prophet (Clip 6 of 9)
    A Prophet (Clip 5 of 9)
    Clip 1:30
    A Prophet (Clip 5 of 9)
    A Prophet (Clip 3 of 9)
    Clip 0:50
    A Prophet (Clip 3 of 9)
    A Prophet (Clip 2 of 9)
    Clip 0:44
    A Prophet (Clip 2 of 9)
    A Prophet (Clip 1 of 9)
    Clip 1:44
    A Prophet (Clip 1 of 9)

    Photos45

    Niels Arestrup and Tahar Rahim in Un prophète (2009)
    Hichem Yacoubi and Tahar Rahim in Un prophète (2009)
    Adel Bencherif and Tahar Rahim in Un prophète (2009)
    Niels Arestrup in Un prophète (2009)
    Tahar Rahim and Pierre Leccia in Un prophète (2009)
    Tahar Rahim in Un prophète (2009)
    Jacques Audiard, Niels Arestrup, and Tahar Rahim in Un prophète (2009)
    Tahar Rahim in Un prophète (2009)
    Tahar Rahim in Un prophète (2009)
    Leïla Bekhti and Tahar Rahim in Un prophète (2009)
    Tahar Rahim in Un prophète (2009)
    Jacques Audiard in Un prophète (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tahar Rahim
    Tahar Rahim
    • Malik El Djebenaas Malik El Djebena
    Niels Arestrup
    Niels Arestrup
    • César Lucianias César Luciani
    Adel Bencherif
    Adel Bencherif
    • Ryadas Ryad
    Reda Kateb
    Reda Kateb
    • Jordias Jordi
    Hichem Yacoubi
    • Reyebas Reyeb
    Jean-Philippe Ricci
    • Vettorias Vettori
    Gilles Cohen
    • Profas Prof
    Pierre Leccia
    • Sampierroas Sampierro
    Antoine Basler
    • Piliccias Pilicci
    Foued Nassah
    • Antaroas Antaro
    Jean-Emmanuel Pagni
    • Santias Santi
    Frédéric Graziani
    • Chef de détentionas Chef de détention
    Leïla Bekhti
    Leïla Bekhti
    • Djamilaas Djamila
    Rabah Loucif
    • L'avocat de Malikas L'avocat de Malik
    Slimane Dazi
    Slimane Dazi
    • Lattracheas Lattrache
    Serge Onteniente
    • Le juge d'application des peinesas Le juge d'application des peines
    Hervé Temime
    • Le procureuras Le procureur
    Taha Lemaizi
    • Hassanas Hassan
    • Director
      • Jacques Audiard
    • Writers
      • Thomas Bidegain(screenplay)
      • Jacques Audiard(screenplay)
      • Abdel Raouf Dafri(original screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Nineteen year-old Franco-Algerian Malik El Djebena is just starting his six year prison sentence in Brécourt. Although he has spent the better part of his life in juvenile detention, this stint is his first in an adult prison. Beyond the division of Corsicans and Muslims in the prison (the Corsicans who with their guard connections rule what happens in the prison), he has no known friends or enemies inside. He is just hoping to serve his time in peace and without incident, despite having no prospects once he's out of jail since he's illiterate and has no support outside of the prison. Due to logistics, the head of Corsican inmates, a sadistic mafioso named César Luciani, co-opts Malik as part of the Corsicans' activities, not only regarding what happens inside the prison, but also continued criminal activities outside. The innocent Malik has no idea what to do but cooperate. This move does not sit well with the other Corsicans, who only see Malik as a dirty Algerian, and the Muslims who now mistrust him. But as time goes on, Malik works to save himself while in prison, while setting up his life post prison on his own terms. Both his demon and his salvation in prison is the specter of one of the first people he really got to know during his incarceration. —Huggo
    male frontal nuditymale pubic hairstrip searchmale rear nuditybrief male full frontal nudity229 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Escaping the prison of life.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for strong violence, sexual content, nudity, language and drug material
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To ensure the authenticity of the prison experience, Jacques Audiard hired former convicts as advisers and extras.
    • Goofs
      When Cesar is discussing how to deal with the mole in his crew with his lawyer each time the shot changes the cigarettes he's smoking changes hands.
    • Quotes

      Reyeb: The idea is to leave here a little smarter.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Cannes Film Festival 2009 (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Mack the Knife
      Music by Kurt Weill

      Lyrics by Bertolt Brecht

      Performed by Jimmie Dale Gilmore

      Courtesy of MCA Records

    User reviews171

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Requiem for a prophet
    A juvenile delinquent named Malik (Tahar Rahim) goes to prison after spending most of his up-growing in juvenile correctional facilities. Malik soon learns that he's no longer a small fish in an aquarium, but a fry in an ocean. And swimming with the big fish is quite a different state of affairs as he is bound to discover.

    Pic's protagonist is recruited by the Corsican gang and being an Arab by appearance (granted, apparently not religiously), he continues to live as an outsider of not only society but also fellow inmates as he has done most of his life. But he continues to float and find his way behind the bars.

    In the exquisite direction of Jaques Audiard, the film accelerates well through good character development and profound script. The education of Malik is in my opinion one of the main pillar of the film because it is an education on so many levels. Of least to get ahead in business. Dirty business, granted, but it is business nonetheless.

    It's the small things that distinguishes this little gem from many other movies on prison culture. It has to be, Audiard knows this and has created yet another great piece of cinema for his fans.
    helpful•62
    21
    • markedasread
    • Sep 26, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 26, 2010 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Italy
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook page
      • Official site (Canada)
    • Languages
      • French
      • Arabic
      • Corsican
    • Also known as
      • Пророк
    • Filming locations
      • Avenue Montaigne, Paris 8, Paris, France
    • Production companies
      • Why Not Productions
      • Chic Films
      • Page 114
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $13,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,087,720
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $163,773
      • Feb 28, 2010
    • Gross worldwide
      • $17,874,044
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 35min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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