Line #31 Film/AProphet


1	[[quoteright:360:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/unprophete.jpg]]
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3	''A Prophet'' (original title ''Un Prophète'') is a crime drama film directed by Creator/JacquesAudiard, released in 2009. It follows the steps of Malik El Djebena, a young French man of Arab descent who is sent to prison after an altercation with a police officer. There, he soon finds himself under the wing of César Luciani, a veteran Corsican crime boss who recruits him to extend his grip in prison to the Muslim section. Malik's assignments will lead him deeper into the underworld as he works his way up through the ranks.
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5	The film was critically acclaimed, earning many awards and nominations, including an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. It stars Tahar Rahim as Malik and Niels Arestrup as Luciani, as well as Adel Bencherif, Reda Kateb and Hichem Yacoubi in supporting roles.
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8	!This film provides examples of:
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10	* AntiHero: El Djebena may be a criminal, but not one without redeeming qualities.
11	* BadBoss: Luciani is not above threatening or physically disciplining his [[{{Mooks}} mooks]]. A case of TruthInTelevision, since this is a prison film.
12	* BatmanGambit: Malik pulls an epic one which leads to the riot mentioned below.
13	** After triggering said riot, he returns to jail the day after he was supposed to, ensuring he is sent to an isolated cell as punishment, safe from the incoming bloodbath.
14	* BookDumb: Malik starts the film as illiterate, learning to read in prison.
15	* DeadPersonConversation: Malik hallucinates [[spoiler:Reyeb]] from time to time and occasionally talks to him.
16	* TheDogBitesBack: [[spoiler:Malik's entire character arc leads to this.]]
17	* TheDragon: Vettori is this to Luciani.
18	* DreamingOfThingsToCome: Malik's dream with the running deer.
19	* EnemyCivilWar: Malik triggers one [[spoiler:In the Coriscan Mob by unveiling Luciani's plot, resulting in the PrisonRiot below.]]
20	* EyeScream: César shoves a spoon into Malik's eye when he risks his outings, impairing his vision for some time.
21	* FromNobodyToNightmare: One of the more compelling takes on this trope in crime movie cinema. Interestingly, Malik [[CharacterDevelopment arguably becomes a wiser, better man]] while becoming a more dangerous criminal.
22	* FunctionalAddict: Jordi 'the Gypsy' is as good a hashish user as he is a dealer.
23	* {{Jerkass}}: Pretty much all of the Corsican mob are very unpleasant assholes.
24	* JoinOrDie: After his first meeting with Luciani, Malik doesn't really have much of a choice.
25	* LockedInTheDungeon: Prisoners who break the rules are put in an isolated, dimly lit cell for some time.
26	* TheMafia: El Djebena becomes involved with the Corsican mob when he's in prison.
27	* NaiveNewcomer: El Djebena starts out as this.
28	* TheOldConvict: Luciani.
29	* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: The Corsican mob constantly insults Malik for his Arab ancestry.
30	* PrisonRiot: A brutal one ensues among the [[spoiler:Corsican inmates]] towards the end.
31	* SlashedThroat: How Malik kills [[spoiler:Reyeb]]. Slashed carotid artery, to be more precise.
32	* TitleDrop: Lattrache asks Malik whether he's a prophet after his car hits a deer he warned him about.
33	* TheTopicOfCancer: Ryad, who goes on to become Malik's best friend, suffers from testicular cancer [[spoiler:and ends up dying from it]].
34	* TookALevelInBadass: By the end of the film Malik has gone from small time hoodlum to [[spoiler:a respected crime boss]].
35	* VillainDecay: The last time we see [[spoiler:Luciani]] -with most (if not all) of his crew either transferred [[spoiler:or dead]]- he is not as threatening anymore.

Context Film / AProphet