A Prophet

A Prophet Photos

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Cast & Crew

Tahar Rahim
Malik El Djebena

Niels Arestrup
César Luciani

Adel Bencherif
Ryad

Hichem Yacoubi
Reyeb

Reda Kateb
Jordi

Antoine Basler
Pilicci

Gilles Cohen
Prof

Pascal Henault
Ceccaldi

Foued Nassah
Antaro

Jean-Emmanuel Pagni
Santi

Jacques Audiard
Director

Jacques Audiard
Screenwriter

Thomas Bidegain
Screenwriter

Martine Cassinelli
Producer

Alexandre Desplat
Original Music

Stéphane Fontaine
Cinematographer

Richard Rousseau
Casting

Michel Barthélémy
Production Design

Juliette Welfling
Film Editor

Thomas Bidegain
Writer

Jacques Audiard
Writer

Abdel Raouf Dafri
Writer

Nicolas Peufaillit
Writer

Lauranne Bourrachot
Producer

Pascal Caucheteux
Producer

Marco Cherqui
Producer

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Critic Reviews for A Prophet

Audience Reviews for A Prophet

• Jul 22, 2014

  An illiterate half-Arab, half-Corsican serves a prison sentence and rises to become a mob leader. This film is mediocre Martin Scorsese -- wait, it's not directed by Scorsese? Shocking! Then I guess this film is mediocre imitation Scorsese. It dark, depressing, virile, and remarkably violent. I make the Scorsese joke because films like Goodfellas and Casino achieve an impossible ethical feat: they make being a mobster seem cool; they make us say, "Gee, if I were a mobster, I'd be that cool, dressing in sherbet-colored suits." And A Prophet wants us to make the same type of ethical leap: they want us to sympathize with a character who goes through a profound ethical transformation from doe-eyed innocent to cold-blooded killer. But unlike the charming Ace Rothstein, Malik doesn't inspire, intrigue, or charm. The film's portrayal of Muslim fundamentalism doesn't get a lot of traction and its aim isn't that clear to me. Overall, Scorsese has done better - wait, are you sure he didn't direct this?
  Jim H Super Reviewer
• Oct 05, 2013

  gripping with more a sense of realism to it than the majority of prison dramas. no crime sprees and no insatiable urge from the protagonist for power, but more an insurmountable penchant for survival and the rest falling into place
  Sanity Assassin ! Super Reviewer
• Jul 30, 2013

  This French prison drama directed by Jacques Audiard from a screenplay he co-wrote with Thomas Bidegain, Abdel Raouf Dafri and Nicolas Peufaillit, is something you cannot miss! If you do, you will be missing on some of the best in the world cinematography on this subject. It stars Tahar Rahim in the title role as an imprisoned petty criminal of Algerian origins who rises in the inmate hierarchy, as he initiates himself into the Corsican and then Muslim subcultures. It is a work of fiction, and for the director the film aimed "creating icons, images for people who don't have images in movies, like the Arabs in France." The character of Malik El Djebena (Tahar Rahim), nineteen years old, French of Algerian descent was so realistically portrayed that it is really hard to understand it as a fictional character, as well as the character of the Corsican mobster Cesar Luciani (Niels Arestrup). The director wanted to ensure the authenticity of the prison experience, and hired former convicts as advisors and extras... The screenplay was done exceptionally seamless and I wasn't even aware when the transitions unfolded most of the times. The main character had nothing when started and the indifference toward him slowly built up a change that he became someone we cared and wanted to succeed. Of course such screenplay and outstanding director could not be unnoticed: A Prophet won the Grand Prix at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, at the 53rd London Film Festival, it won the Best Film Award. After that won the Prix Louis Delluc 2009, nd at the 63rd British Academy Film Awards, it won a BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language. It was nominated for 13 César Awards, tying it with three other films for the most nominations of any film in César history. It won 9 Cesars at the ceremony, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. The film was nominated for the Grand Prix of the Belgian Syndicate of Cinema Critics. The film also won Best Foreign Film at the 13th annual British Independent Film Awards, which were held in London at the Old Billingsgate on December 5, 2010... still thinking of missing this? Don't!
  Panta O Super Reviewer
• Jul 17, 2013

  A morally complex and riveting study of the power struggle within the confines of prison.
  Pierluigi P Super Reviewer

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