A Prayer Before Dawn review: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire’s film is ‘inhumane and unforgiving; Sauvaire doesn’t shy away from really depicting the harsh nature of Thai prison life.’
A Prayer Before Dawn review by Awais Irfan.
A Prayer Before Dawn review
We’ve seen all kinds of prison-set films, from the relentlessly violent Brawl in Cell Block 99 to more popcorn-flick fare the likes of Escape Plan to even Paddington 2. However, no film depicts the horrors of prison-life quite the way A Prayer Before Dawn does.
Based on the bestselling memoir by Billy Moore (embodied here by the young Joe Cole), A Prayer Before Dawn tells the story of Moore’s haunting time in Thai prison – perhaps one of the most nightmarish places on Earth… or so it certainly seems in this film. The only British man in the prison, Moore is seen as the outsider, the prey for the predators, but, against all odds, he survives and uses his fighting experience to help him live another day. Director Jean-Stephane Sauvaire’s film is inhumane and unforgiving; Sauvaire doesn’t shy away from really depicting the harsh nature of Thai prison life and it can make for some truly uncomfortable viewing at times.
Related: Brawl In Cell Block 99 review
A Prayer Before Dawn eschews not only the tropes of both the boxing genre and the prison film, it eschews the trappings of modern cinema in general. It’s hauntingly realistic, grounded in palpable authenticity, and the film really holds you in its uncomfortable grasp for longer than you’d perhaps like at times. It’s gritty and raw – more documentary-esque than glamourised Hollywood. But this is what makes the film such a strong affair. This is a fascinating look into prison-life – Thai prison life, even, which is notorious for being one of the most harrowing prison experiences there can be – and it’s compelling and so real and raw that it’s hard not to give into its punch and not be compelled. It’s such a self-contained story and it works superbly well as a result. It’s hard-hitting and definitely won’t sit well with all audiences – as esoteric a film as they come.
A Prayer Before Dawn review
Sauvaire’s direction is taut and unforgiving; the action is vicious in its nature – bloody and detailed. He holds us in wince-inducing long takes as blood is spat from every bone-crunching punch; tattered ears are sewn together after breathless fights; oriental tattoos are carved into soft skin. Sauvaire holds us in the moment. Unconventionally and daringly so, but not for the squeamish. However, despite all of its punishing brutality, the film lacks much else. The story is devoid of any compelling characters; it’s more a case of peering into real-life than a glossy story with a protagonist to root for. At around 2 hours, though, this lack of pathos or weight can mean that the film runs itself thin. It’s fascinating, yes; prison life is awful, yes. But it’s not a film that is entirely memorable for its characters or story or interchangeable performances. A Prayer Before Dawn leaves us in muddied water then: the perfect midnight movie for those looking to dip into a night of horror and the grim reality of the suffering of man in such an inhumane environment; but, as a film, it just feels lacking to be anything more than a fine, one-time-watch.
A Prayer Before Dawn review by Awais Irfan, February 2018.
A Prayer Before Dawn is awaiting a UK release.
