388:
prisoners and personnel are tense, at one point going into a violent frenzy and biting into the neck of a corrections officer after being refused painkillers. Following his punishment, Billy attempts to befriend a transgender prisoner named Fame. Life in prison worsens for Billy, and he retreats into heavy drug abuse; he subsequently beats two Muslim chefs half to death after being bribed
408:
if he loses the tournament. Even worse, it is established that Billy is suffering from a hernia due to his drug abuse, and any subsequent damage could result in severe internal bleeding. Regardless, Billy still desires to compete. The resulting match is gruelling for Billy, as he takes multiple shots
412:
Billy is quickly rushed to the hospital, and after waking up, he sneaks out of the building and into the cityscape. Billy soon reconsiders his actions and returns to the hospital. After being transferred, he meets his father (played by the real Billy Moore), and the two exchange a solemn smile.
387:
Incarcerated into Klong Prem prison, Billy is quickly subjugated to the horrors of Thai prison life, including being moved into a crowded mass ruled by cell boss Keng, forced to sleep next to a corpse and witnessing at knifepoint the rape of a fellow inmate. Billy's experiences with the other
395:
Billy's psyche finally breaks; he attempts suicide by slitting his wrist, though he survives. With a desperate need to fight again and battle his demons, Billy eventually joins the boxing team with the help of Fame, with whom he later develops a romance. Billy quickly adapts to the art of
477:
would star in the film, with Jean-Stéphane
Sauvaire directing from a screenplay written by Jonathan Hirschbein and Nick Saltrese, based upon a memoir written by Billy Moore. Rita Dagher, Sol Papadopoulos, and Roy Boutler will serve as producers on their Senorita Films banner, alongside
409:
to the stomach and is also fouled by his opponent. However, Billy manages to knock him out with a spinning back elbow and wins the fight using what he learned. Despite the victory, the physical trauma is too much, and Billy ends up vomiting blood and passing out.
400:
and wins his first bout in a close back-and-forth brawl. Impressed by his performance, prison warden
Preecha has him transferred into the boxing team cell, being the first foreigner to compete in the national Muay Thai tournament and represent the prison.
497:, where Moore served his sentences, so production decided to film scenes set in both prisons at Nakhon Pathom prison, which was decommissioned in 2014 and now acts as a museum. The climax, however, was filmed at the courtyard of the
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There he soon develops a camaraderie with the other boxers, receiving a tattoo on his back. However, Billy is ambushed by Keng and his gang, who threaten him with a
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705:
31:
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1135:
563:
is far from an easy watch, but this harrowing prison odyssey delivers rich rewards — led by an outstanding central performance from Joe Cole." On
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801:
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622:
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559:, the film has an approval rating of 92% based on 65 reviews, and an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "
1125:
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in
October 2010. Since his release, he has devoted his life to working with other addicts and fighting to maintain his recovery.
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857:
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567:, the film has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
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949:"AT&T Delivers 'A Prayer Before Dawn' the Muay Thai Boxing Story Shot in a Real Thai Prison"
858:"2017 Cannes Film Festival Announces Lineup: Todd Haynes, Sofia Coppola, 'Twin Peaks' and More"
1085:
659:
649:
552:
329:
30:
1006:
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113:
1055:
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976:"'A Prayer Before Dawn' Trailer: Joe Cole Leads Cannes Boxing Drama Shot in a Thai Prison"
678:"'A Prayer Before Dawn' pulls no punches in its portrayal of boxing in Thailand's prisons"
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556:
540:
449:
1041:
535:
It was released in the United
Kingdom on 20 July 2018, and in the United States through
1020:
536:
474:
413:
Closing titles reveal that after serving three years, Billy Moore was transferred to a
200:
100:
738:"'Peaky Blinders' Star Joe Cole Boards Thai Kick-Boxing Thriller 'Prayer Before Dawn'"
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179:
524:
acquired UK distribution rights to the film. The film had its world premiere at the
614:
479:
163:
516:
was first published in 2014 by
Maverick House, Dublin, Ireland. In February 2017,
770:"A24 Buys North American Rights To Muay Thai Pic 'A Prayer Before Dawn' – Berlin"
332:
89:
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900:
564:
663:
980:
862:
397:
381:
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952:
418:
706:"'Sons of Anarchy's' Charlie Hunnam to Star in 'A Prayer Before Dawn'"
361:
on 19 May, and was released in the United
Kingdom on 20 July 2018, by
339:
and written by
Jonathan Hirschbein and Nick Saltrese. The film stars
384:
after being charged with possession of stolen goods and a firearm.
380:, a young British boxer and troubled heroin addict, is arrested in
389:
520:
acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film. In April 2017,
517:
366:
196:
802:"Altitude picks up Joe Cole thriller 'A Prayer Before Dawn'"
414:
646:
A Prayer Before Dawn: My
Nightmare in Thailand's Prisons
505:. Several of CPDRC's inmates participated in the shoot.
345:
A Prayer Before Dawn: My
Nightmare in Thailand's Prisons
72:
A Prayer Before Dawn: My
Nightmare in Thailand's Prisons
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Thai authorities denied permission to film in the real
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Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center
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82:
67:
50:
40:
23:
365:, and in the United States on 10 August 2018, by
486:joined the cast of the film, replacing Hunnam.
514:A Prayer Before Dawn: A Nightmare in Thailand
8:
539:on 12 July 2018, before being released in a
29:
20:
1176:Films directed by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire
576:
528:on 15 May 2017. It went onto screen at
768:Fleming, Mike Jr. (10 February 2017).
582:
580:
7:
736:Barraclough, Leo (30 October 2015).
704:Barraclough, Leo (31 October 2014).
623:British Board of Film Classification
1196:English-language action drama films
392:by a corrupt corrections officer.
14:
856:Winfrey, Graham (13 April 2017).
648:. New York: Skyhorse Publishing.
929:. Film Distributors Association
1161:Films based on autobiographies
1136:English-language Chinese films
357:had its world premiere at the
1:
1121:English-language French films
831:"The 2017 Official Selection"
800:Grater, Tom (27 April 2017).
1171:2010s English-language films
1116:American prison drama films
1111:American martial arts films
1009:A Prayer Before Dawn (2018)
443:Pornchanok Mabklang as Fame
1212:
1141:Chinese action drama films
1131:British action drama films
974:Dry, Jude (19 July 2018).
522:Altitude Film Distribution
417:prison and released on an
1126:French action drama films
495:Klong Prem Central Prison
491:Chiang Mai Central Prison
359:2017 Cannes Film Festival
343:and is based on the book
35:Theatrical release poster
28:
446:Panya Yimmumphai as Keng
257:10 August 2018
1106:2017 action drama films
588:"'A Prayer Before Dawn"
1151:Films shot in Thailand
923:"A Prayer Before Dawn"
889:"A Prayer Before Dawn"
337:Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire
246:20 July 2018
45:Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire
1156:Films set in Thailand
986:Penske Business Media
868:Penske Business Media
780:Penske Business Media
748:Penske Business Media
716:Penske Business Media
644:Moore, Billy (2016).
503:CPDRC Dancing Inmates
254: (United Kingdom)
231:19 May 2017
160:Meridan Entertainment
156:Indochina Productions
1181:2010s American films
1081:A Prayer Before Dawn
1044:A Prayer Before Dawn
835:Cannes Film Festival
810:Screen International
617:A Prayer Before Dawn
561:A Prayer Before Dawn
526:Cannes Film Festival
355:A Prayer Before Dawn
325:A Prayer Before Dawn
265: (United States)
24:A Prayer Before Dawn
1186:2010s British films
1146:A24 (company) films
543:on 10 August 2018.
482:. In October 2015,
456:Vithaya Pansringarm
57:Jonathan Hirschbein
1191:2010s French films
897:South by Southwest
775:Deadline Hollywood
532:on 12 March 2018.
530:South by Southwest
458:as Officer Preecha
553:review aggregator
473:In October 2014,
464:as Billy's Father
335:film directed by
321:
320:
168:Symbolic Exchange
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903:on 30 March 2018
899:. Archived from
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501:, known for the
423:King of Thailand
406:pin prick attack
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209:(United Kingdom)
97:Sol Papadopoulos
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1016:Rotten Tomatoes
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837:. 13 April 2017
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593:Box Office Mojo
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541:limited release
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450:Somluck Kamsing
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1021:Fandango Media
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955:. 12 July 2018
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625:. 10 July 2018
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537:DirecTV Cinema
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475:Charlie Hunnam
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190:Distributed by
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176:Senorita Films
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60:Nick Saltrese
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27:
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1080:
1059:. Retrieved
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1024:. Retrieved
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989:. Retrieved
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957:. Retrieved
943:
931:. Retrieved
926:
917:
905:. Retrieved
901:the original
892:
883:
871:. Retrieved
861:
851:
839:. Retrieved
825:
813:. Retrieved
806:Screen Daily
805:
795:
783:. Retrieved
773:
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751:. Retrieved
741:
731:
719:. Retrieved
709:
699:
687:. Retrieved
683:The National
681:
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639:
627:. Retrieved
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597:. Retrieved
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513:
512:
488:
480:HanWay Films
472:
411:
403:
394:
386:
376:
354:
353:
344:
333:prison drama
330:biographical
324:
323:
322:
274:Running time
164:HanWay Films
131:Marc Boucrot
123:David Ungaro
71:
18:
462:Billy Moore
439:Billy Moore
378:Billy Moore
349:Billy Moore
278:117 minutes
94:Rita Dagher
90:Roy Boulter
83:Produced by
77:Billy Moore
41:Directed by
1101:2017 films
1095:Categories
1051:Metacritic
571:References
565:Metacritic
469:Production
452:as Trainer
328:is a 2017
314:Box office
261:2018-08-10
250:2018-07-20
235:2017-05-19
213:Wild Bunch
145:Production
51:Written by
1061:21 August
981:IndieWire
863:IndieWire
664:914219270
547:Reception
398:Muay Thai
317:$ 958,883
283:Countries
147:companies
128:Edited by
16:2017 film
953:AT&T
933:29 March
907:29 March
873:13 April
841:13 April
815:29 March
785:29 March
753:29 March
721:29 March
599:8 August
555:website
484:Joe Cole
435:Joe Cole
382:Thailand
363:Altitude
341:Joe Cole
306:Language
215:(France)
207:Altitude
136:Music by
114:Joe Cole
110:Starring
68:Based on
991:19 July
959:19 July
743:Variety
711:Variety
689:20 July
629:25 July
509:Release
421:by the
419:amnesty
309:English
259: (
248: (
233: (
1026:9 July
662:
652:
295:France
241:Cannes
239: (
172:Canal+
619:(18)"
390:ya ba
298:China
180:Ciné+
1086:IMDb
1063:2018
1028:2021
993:2018
961:2018
935:2018
909:2018
875:2017
843:2017
817:2018
787:2018
755:2018
723:2018
691:2018
660:OCLC
650:ISBN
631:2018
601:2018
493:and
429:Cast
373:Plot
1084:at
551:On
518:A24
437:as
367:A24
351:.
347:by
197:A24
75:by
1097::
1054:.
1048:.
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984:.
978:.
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579:^
415:UK
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
