A Prophet Interviews

Jacques Audiard's latest film to cross our shores has earned him comparisons to Scorsese and cemented his status as one of the most interesting European directors today. His previous films such as Read my Lips and The Beat my Heart Skipped have all the elements of a true auteur’s touch with fascinating character studies within a crime setting. Therefore, it is a privilege for Cinémoi to present an interview with Audiard, as well as leading actors Tahar Rahim and Niels Arestrup, on a A Prophet.
A Prophet charts the rise of maladjusted illiterate youth Malik through a prison’s gangster hierarchy. Malik gains the trust of the prison kingpin César (Niels Arestrup) and his Corsican mafia to carry out a hit ensuring their protection of him. By gradually decoding the rules and politics of prison life, Malik rises to the top. Admittedly popular French prison dramas have been few and far between, however Audiard’s vision has even transcended what we traditionally expect from this genre. Audiard mixes The Wire –style American toughness, focused documentary shooting and touches of magic realism. This eclectic blend has been an instant success. The film converted the Best Film prize at the London film festival and is already being heralded as ‘a gangster classic’.
In this interview, Jaques Audiard describes the process of authentically capturing prison life. Actors Tahar Rahim and Niels Arestrup, a talented beginner and a seasoned performer, both share their experiences of preparing their roles and experiences during the film shoot.

Produced by Minky Productions for Cinémoi