The Prayer

Twenty-two-year-old, heroin addict Thomas is sent to an isolated rehabilitation center in the French Alps where he is required to live an observant Catholic life. The staff, led by a charismatic nun, instructs him that prayer and hard work are the only available substitutes for drugs. In time, Thomas feels the spirit of God within him. But a series of events, including the appearance of a kind-eyed village girl, place him at a crossroads. Acclaimed French director Cédric Kahn wisely weaves theological issues into a humanistic, touching, and powerful work that combines spectacular cinematography with an impressive performance by Anthony Bajon for which he won the Best Actor Prize at the Berlin Film Festival.