We chose to present this movie in order to illustrate the phenomenon of niprelationships. We were also impressed by all the things we could learn, as psychologist, from this movie.
To work on this movie, we decided to split this article in two parts : a short synopsis and what as psychology students, we can learn from this movie :
- Synopsis :
Malik El Djebena is 19 years old when he is sentenced to 6 years of prison. Malik looks like a young men, facing money problems and trying to find ways to survive. We will understand trough the movie that Malik can’t read.
Upon arrival, Malik is forced to work for the Corsica Mafia, leaded by César Luciani. This old man knows everybody in the prison and still carry on his own business outside the prison. Malik will become despite himself, a pawn of the Corsica Mafia.
His first mission will be to kill Reyeb, a prisoner, ready to testify against César and his collaborators.
Following this mission, Malik will be followed by Reyeb spirit, helping him to understand what’s going on and finding his own place to survive in this prison.
Gradually, Malik understand César’s goal and decide to build a network through all the prison. He will slowly build up collaborations with the muslim mafia and a gypsy, remaining faithful to César and his team.
After 3 years living in the prison and working for César, Malik is allowed to leave prison for 10 hours, as a reward for good behaviour. The young man see clear through César missions given to him, and continue to work for him, building his own network.
Malik understand finally the whole process and decide to follow his own interest, trying to take César to his own game..
II. What can we understand as psychologist thanks to this movie ?
Thinking about few point, we will try to highlight what we learned thanks to this movie. Moreover, we will discuss about the function of a psychologist working in prison.
1/ Niprelationship
One of the best thing we can learn looking at this movie could be the side effect of what we will call “Niprelationship”. Malik, since the beginning of the movie, will be the focus of César, aiming to alienate him and ask him increasing assignments. One of our goal, especially as psychologist, is to ask people free will, and if we need to, inform the prison professional team.
2/ Interindividual differences
Thanks to Malik and this movie, we clearly see the difference between people facing prison. Some of them will take care of themselves and trying to prepare their exit, whereas other will continue to find ways to run their own business. As psychologist, it could be important to work with people on their own values and planning their exit, working on their skills. Moreover, we think, that working on the understanding of the penal sanction might be one of our mission. As simple as it looks, people often forget that justice is “punishing act, not people”, even if it is deprivating prisoner’s liberty. Even with a sanction, the prisoners still have a human value.
3/ Prevention of recidivism
Looking at this movie, we could ask ourselves if Malik really learned something from all those business. The end of the movie underline the resumption of a new business, leaded by Malik. As a psychologist, we need to prevent recidivism, as far as we can, by working on prisoner’s projects, and how they understand their acts, and how they can enroll those in their own stories.
4/ Keeping a link with the “outside”
Often forgotten, before being “prisoners”, people like Malik were citizen living a daily life with friends, beloved, family. In Malik’s case, he will have to prepare his exit, staying maximum 6 years in prison. We need to work on the link he can maintain with people he wants, and promoting a social reintegration as soon as possible, or at least, avoid desocialization. According to Baader, working on keeping prisoners integrated in society, learning them a job, could significantly reduce recidivism.
5/ Offering a friendly listening space
Watching the movie, we could all agree about the tension of the prison atmosphere. Taking care of people atmosphere and the place they live in, asked us about a place to listen to Malik stories, far from the carceral procedure and in a friendly dynamic. The way they built the prison and how they structure prisoner’s day may ask about a time for themselves, maybe thinking about what they did, and of course, a place to talk about it, something really missing in actual prison. We must incite to develop place of free speech without judgment.
III. Conclusion
Working as a Psychologist in prison looks like a difficult job. According on the few testimonials we were able to find about this topic, we want to highlight the necessity to give a place to psychotherapeutic work in prison.
Add to that, the movie “un prophète”, allows us to understand the reality of prison, with a powerful subjective experience through Malik’s story. Do not wait, watch it !
Myriam LANCINI & Roman MALO – Master 2 PCPI
Words that we learn :
Niprelationship – Les relations d’emprises
Network – Réseau
Prevention of recidivism – Prévention de la récidive
Spirit – Esprit
Values – Valeurs