A Prophet

It's time for another indie movie flick review to get you all revved up for something that deserves a bit more than some fringe viewership. When I heard about A Prophet what hooked me was the promise of a unique and exceptional mob movie. I don't think I'm alone in that regard. After all most American's would hold one of the two Godfather movies in high esteem, as has been proven over and over in movie polls. Adding to the pique of interest is the fact that it's a French movie. Over the past year I've watched over 10 French films  (absolutely unplanned, if I made add) and this one is my favorite so far.

So how to describe it? Okay, here's the quick, dirty and overly general breakdown: Take Godfather, include the added emotional heft of Godfather II, take away the operatic aspects, add jail and some rather distracting supernatural aspects, and you've got the general sense of the movie. Somehow that felt disrespectful, but also not entirely untrue...

Our main focus is Malik, a young Arab thrown in jail for reasons that are never expounded. Right from the first scene we learn that he has no friends and no enemies. If we've learned anything from the oft-filmed politics of prison, is that this kid is in a serious bind. The story is about Malik's ascendance into power within the ranks of the mob through cunning and his willingness to commit where others let opportunities pass by. And unlike the first Godfather, which primarly dealt with the Corleone family as a whole, A Prophet specifically hinges on Malik's growth and final corruption.

I've never been in a French prison, or any prison for that matter (albeit, I guess that's technically not true...), but the movie has the gravity of 'realness'. The director has the deft hand in being able to create a sense of life within the confines of endlessly stained concrete.  The prison is not romanticized, it is shown as a hard and cruel place, but also as a place where men continue to live their lives. Not everyone is a badass or a weakling ready to get trampled over. You're not only witnessing prison life, but inhabiting it.

And this points towards the flaw of the film, which you may have picked up on in my second paragraph where I transparently choose to include foreshadowing: the supernatural. There is a character that Malik is haunted by, which I at first took this to be psychological in nature, but as the movie progressed it became clear that he was actually being haunted by a ghost. Malik can also 'see' the future, which is where we get the title from. It's more than a bit difficult for the viewer to accept these two worlds living side by side, the stark realism and the supernatural. I guess it can be taken as magical realism, but to be honest, it never felt like it added anything. It seems like even the corrupt can have their heroes, their holy man. But what of it? It doesn't add to Malik's character, it slightly cheapens his ability to navigate the treacherous waters of prison and the movie never makes enough of a comment on the prison community to give a sense that they need a 'savior', even a dark one. It feels like all that aspect could have done away with and we would have been left with an improved version.

But even with that negative aspect of the film, I cannot help but recommend it. The movie feels honest, it is truly moving (without resorting to tricks), and has some insanely tense scenes. Also, and this is a minor point, but I was also thankful there wasn't the usual requisite prison rape scene. I'm glad a director and a writer were able to get passed that by now. I also found that it is geared more towards men, (and no, that doesn't mean women shouldn't watch it, Fight Club is a movie made for men and I've found just as many women who like it as men) and speaks directly to their situation. You read it here: You should watch A Prophet.

- piecar