March 31, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 17 ‘A Prophet’ depicts man surviving prison life by Dennis Seuling “A Prophet,” this year’s nominee from France for Best Foreign Film, is the story of illiterate, 19-year-old Malik (Tahar Rahim), an Arab convicted of beating up a policeman. Shortly after being incarcerated, he is set upon by two inmates who steal his sneakers, and he is approached by Cesar (Niels Arestrup), the leader of a Corsican gang that runs the jail, including corrupt guards. Cesar asks for a favor -- one that will determine whether Malik will gain Cesar’s protection and survive his six-year sentence. What is so frightening is how quickly Malik must act. There is little time for him to consider his choices. When a film’s central character is not a nice guy, the director has to make him interesting enough for the audience to care about. In this, director Jacques Audiard succeeds. This is largely due to Rahim’s performance. Malik is initially seen as a victim, and the viewer is concerned that he may not survive the horrors of prison life. When Malik decides to learn to read and write, and takes the initiative in dealing with Cesar, his self-assurance emerges. Though Cesar doesn’t trust the Muslims who are beginning to outnumber his own gang in the prison, he trusts Malik, who learns about the prison hierarchy, rampant corruption, and the deadly workings of crime and revenge. In the outside world, Malik would be admired for his enterprising nature. Arestrup’s Cesar is a vivid portrayal of camouflaged evil. Cesar is physically unimposing, sits in the prison yard like an old man napping, but takes in everything. He is always watching, seeing who speaks to whom, who the new (continued on page 20) In prison, Malik (Tamir Rahim, left) is taken under the wing of crime boss Cesar (Niels Arestrup) in ‘A Prophet.’ �������� ������� ��������� �������� ���������� ������������ ����� �������� ��������� ��������������������������������������������� Join us for Join us on Easter ������������� ��������� ������������������������� ���������� �������� ������ ���������� �������������������� ���������� ������������������ ������� ������ Sunday, April 4th ����������������� ������� ������ HAPPY HOUR ������������������������ ������������������ �������������� ���������� except holidays ��������������� ������������� ������������������ ��������� ��������������������� �������������� ��������� ���������������� � ���������������������� except holidays �������������� �� �������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������ 3-10-10