A young North African, Malik El Djebena, estranged from the Muslim community, is brutally initiated into prison reality. Power is held not by the guards, but by a feared Corsican kingpin, César. When Malik arrives, César sees him as a potential foot soldier in his private prison army. Soon Malik is embedded in César’s orbit, dutifully carrying out his orders. Obedience is survival and gradually César learns to rely on Malik. But when a group of Muslims arrive and begin to threaten César's power, Malik has to make decisions. Newcomer Tahar Rahim is brilliant as Malik, as is Niels Arestrup as César. With surgical skill, Audiard dissects the unsentimental education of a young man caught between two worlds, two religions and two value systems. Nomintate for an Oscar as the Best Foreign Language Film of the Year (France). Grand Prix 2009 Cannes Film Festival