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Un prophète (2009)
 
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Directed
by:
Jacques
Audiard |
COUNTRY
France |
GENRE
Crime/Drama |
INTERNATIONAL TITLE
A
Prophet |
NORWEGIAN TITLE
Profeten |
RUNNING
TIME
150
minutes |
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Produced
by:
Martine
Cassinelli
Antonin Dedet |
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Written by:
Jacques
Audiard
Thomas Bidegain
Abdel Raouf Dafri
Nicolas Peufaillit
Stuart Blumberg |
Review
Un prophète
is stern and gritty social realism from director Jacques Audiard, who
follows French-Arab Malik's quiet-mannered ascent from nobody to
overlord in a contemporary French prison. The character portrait is
remarkably strong, because Malik's development is one of unflappable
endurance and reserved shrewdness. It's interesting, if not completely
engaging. Audiard never emphasizes the events he portrays; he just lets
them come and pass, almost hurrying on to the next one. This gives the
film realism, but also makes for a somewhat monotonous narrative
experience. There are no pace-shifts, few intensifiers (except for a
breathtaking scene involving a mouth-hidden razorblade), and much of the
effect is left to Tahar Rahim's impressive acting in the lead.
Additionally, Audiard's feeble attempts to link the theme of the title
to the story and the protagonist are unconvincing. If this was the
entire extent of Malik's so-called prophetic powers, I'd rather not
bother. The film's story should have been trusted to do the work,
especially since it is rather apparent that Audiard has little to
communicate in terms of stance and message.
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