From the director of DE BATTRE MON CŒUR S’EST ARRÊTÉ, this is indeed one of the finest drama crime thriller films I have ever seen.

The film depicts a nineteen-year-old, Malik El Djebena who is sentenced to serve six years in prison. He has no family, no friends. There, in prison he is chosen by César Luciani, the elder and powerful man who runs the prison.

Malik is assigned to kill a man, and in return he will receive protection. And they will kill him if he does not follow the assignment or fails to do so.

After Malik completes the task given, César takes him under his wings. Malik observes and runs errands for César and his gang. Slowly he gains trust and silently climbs to higher positions in the hierarchy.

The performance of Niels Arestrup who portrays César Luciani is marvelously powerful, he is like the French version of Sir Anthony Hopkins!

Tahar Rahim’s (Malik El Djebena) performance is incredible and captivating. The script, the cast, the cinematography, the direction, the soundtrack, everything is just brilliant.

UN PROPHÈTE premiered at Festival de Cannes on May 16, 2009. The film was theatrically released in France on August 26.