A Prophet (BD)
The movie starts with Malik (Tahar Rahim) beginning a six-year sentence at a prison camp. César (Niels Arestrup) heads the Corsican gang in the prison and has prison guards under his control. One of the prisoners, Reyeb (Hichem Yacoubi), is going to testify against the Corsican gang, and César’s boss working from outside the prison wants Reyeb dead. Soon, Malik is contacted by a henchman to kill Reyeb. Pressured, Malik kills Reyeb, and in the process begins to gain César’s trust. Meanwhile, there is an ethnic divide between the Muslim and Corsican gangs that results in tension and fighting within the camp. Being an Arab of French descent, Malik struggles to gain the trust of his Muslim brothers when César asks him to strike an alliance with them. In the prison, Malik meets Ryad (Adel Bencherif), who teaches him how to read and write, and they form a lasting friendship. Ryad and Malik team up to carry out shady deals for César so they can earn quick money. Along the way, Malik climbs the criminal ladder and gains the support and respect of other prisoners.
“A Prophet” is driven by fantastic performances by its two leads: Malik El Djebena played by Tahar Rahim, and the character of César Luciani played by a veteran actor Niels Arestrup. The two characters perfectly represent the generational divide that exists in their crime history. César has been in the crime business long enough to understand the whole game, whereas Malik is a new entrant in the jail facility trying to learn the rules of the game. César runs his gang in the prison with the assistance of other Corsican criminals who are serving their sentences. Seeing Malik as a criminal virgin, he pounces on this opportunity by assigning him with a deadly task of killing Reyeb. Feeling cornered by César’s men and with the survival of the fittest mantra, Malik has no option but to execute César’s plan. All through this, Malik switches between different identities: he carries an image of an apprehensive person, but also a portrait of a criminal mastermind, who gradually begins to pick up on his criminal vocabulary. Seemingly, Caesar with his power and money has got control of Malik’s life.
While César is advocating his criminal methods and busy planning the next move, Malik quickly develops key qualities that are unexpected from a rookie: he becomes an astute listener, a keen observer, and a quick learner of the criminal trade. Contrastingly, even though Malik is showing a criminal façade to César, he is carrying the enormous guilt of his first act. In various segments, Malik interacts with Reyeb in his visions that lay out his disturbed and reflective state of mind, and an emotional dilemma in persisting with the criminal profession.
But things don’t stay same for Malik, and soon the cards are turned in his favor. There is a remarkable moment later on in the film that convincingly sets up the role switching. Early on, César witnesses Malik being beaten by other prisoners, but he does not come to help him. Then a few years later, Malik apparently has found the support of the Muslim gang. César thinks he still holds authority over Malik and in one scene commandingly calls for him, but he is soon stopped by a Muslim gang accomplice in the courtyard. Malik doesn’t even look back. Moments later, realizing that he has been outnumbered by the rival gang, César steps back and sits on the nearby bench, probably reflecting on the possible end of his flamboyant gangster era. More so, the realization seeps in at a deeper level in relation to his death and lonely time in prison. It’s an emotionally low portrayal of a desolate man done in a very thought-provoking way, whereby the camera stays focused on capturing César’s expressions. Indeed, the discourse between Malik and César leads to intense psychological tension throughout, and they are some of the defining moments in the film.
Most of the action on screen occurs in characters’ minds. Starting with César recruiting Malik, followed by Malik and Reyeb interaction, and then the racial tension between the Corsicans and Muslims, “A Prophet” defines action through the mindset of its criminals and how they operate. Surely, there is a brutal scene right at the start, but other that, the action occurs with planning and forethought. Even with its two-and-half hours of running time, the narrative moves at a very brisk pace with rarely a dull moment. There are a lot of things happening in the story line, especially when Malik becomes eligible to go outside the prison for twelve hours. During these instances, as a messenger and liaison, Malik loyally carries out César’s tasks.
Furthermore, with each success, Malik gains César’s trust, and César foresees him playing a bigger role in his business. When his third leave request gets approved, his role as a messenger is suddenly shifted to that of a hitman. César asks him to carry out a dangerous assassination task, and after mulling for a while, he accepts the offer. Approaching the entire situation with utmost circumspection, he carefully plans the mission. The entire sequence runs for about ten minutes or so, and the director teleports us inside the minds of its characters and their thought process as they carry out their final mission. Indeed, these scenes provide sufficient action and suspense to the story.
The protagonists in other prison dramas like “The Shawshank Redemption,” “The Great Escape,” and “Papillion” focused their efforts on planning an escape; the characters are innocent criminals caught in a hopeless situation. In contrast, the characters in “A Prophet” are busily masterminding their criminal activities from within the enclosed walls; for them, it is business as usual. In fact, the entire movie plays from the perspective of the criminals; there are no heroes, no sad tales, no trapped, innocent souls.
In my second viewing, I was simply amazed by the unspoken power of “A Prophet,” something I clearly missed in my first viewing. The movie is a harrowing journey into the world of criminals, and it primarily succeeds because of a brilliant script and a deep story line. The characters and their motives are appropriately fleshed out and coupled with dazzling performances from its cast, making the movie a satisfying emotional experience. In spite of its depressing subject matter, “A Prophet” is a well-made movie that excels in every department. I daresay it is the best prison drama I have seen.
Video:
Audio:
Sony has included a lossless option in the form of a 5.1 French DTS-HD MA track. The front channels mostly stay active during the conversations. As expected, the dialogue is top-notch and remains audible throughout. The surround channels are triggered during the fighting scenes, mainly in the climactic scene. Overall, it’s perfect demo material for a drama movie.
Extras:
“A Prophet” launches on Blu-ray with only a handful set of extras. First, we get an audio commentary track with director Jacques Audiard, actor Tahar Rahim, and co-writer Thomas Bidegain. The track is in French, but English subtitles are rightly provided. The trio discuss various shots in terms of technical aspects, story line, and characters in the film.
Next, we have a set of four deleted scenes. Following this, there is a rehearsal segment; and screen tests involving the actor, Tahar Rahim. Finally, a theatrical trailer is also included.
Parting Shots:
“A Prophet” is one man’s dark journey in the world of crime that is brutal and violent, but at the same time equally entertaining. Behind every motive, there is an engrossing psychological theme associated with it. This is a complex movie that transcends the conventional stereotypes attached to a prison driven picture. Malik’s performance is immensely intense, yet never over-the-top; done with a layered storyline, “A Prophet” succeeds at all levels. Sony has produced a top-notch package, which only lacks in the extras department. Fans of drama should definitely check this out.
My link to the DVDTOWN review <a href=”http://www.dvdtown.com/review/prophet-a/blu-ray/8329“>here</a>
Comments
Post a Comment