Italian director Enrico Maria Artale wasn’t scared of referencing Jacques Audiard ’s 2009 Oscar-nominated drama in his eight-episode series “ A Prophet ,” now premiering in Venice. But others were.

“Many French directors refused to do the series before they offered it to me. It was probably out of fear – they were afraid to touch something that was so famous and beautiful, and meaningful. Or maybe it was out of respect for the institution that is Jacques Audiard,” he says.

“For me, he’s always been a master – even before ‘The Prophet.’ I loved ‘The Beat That My Heart Skipped.’ But I just thought it was a unique opportunity to work on something I’ve admired so much.”

Sold by Studiocanal and created by Abdel Raouf Dafri and Nicolas Peufaillit, “A Prophet” – taking place contemporar

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