A Prophet (Un Prophete)
Last year, when I reviewed 'The Class' - another French film which received a major award at Cannes - I described it as essential viewing for anyone who thinks teachers "have it easy." I'd apply a similar principle to this film. It's a must-see for anyone who's under the impression that prisons are like luxury hotels!
'A Prophet' exposes a central flaw in the the justice system: the notion that prison is a place for rehabilitation and reformation. Tahar Rahim plays a petty crook who slowly becomes a master criminal during his six year jail sentence. His performance is outstanding - and his transformation from a naive, illiterate victim of the (corrupt and racist) penal system to an ambitious, scheming kingpin is totally convincing.
This is a gritty, complex crime drama with moments of shocking, graphic violence. For the most part, director Jacques Audiard adopts a hand-held, documentary style. The action is interspersed with surreal, dream-like moments - the lead character's "visions" - and these aren't always convincing. But this is a minor flaw in an otherwise excellent work of cinema.
