A Prophet follows nineteen year-old Malik (Tahar Rahim) who is condemned to six years in prison. Arriving in jail friendless and alone with no-one to protect him, he finds himself drawn into the brutal violence and gang warfare of daily prison life. The film’s about making it in the mafia really. But being a member of the Mafia isn’t all about the tough-guy image. Here’s a list of unknown facts that tell a different story……

Hot shot

Notorious American gangster Al Capone was the leader of a major crime syndicate responsible for racketeering during the 1920s – 1930s. He is considered one of the biggest crime lords of all time and is referenced amongst crime culture to this day. During a game of golf with the also infamous Johnny Patton he once shot himself. Capone was getting into a car when his .45 went off in his right pocket, and caught him in both the legs and groin giving more than a hole in one.

What a pretty Scarface

Some of the most popular fronts for crime organisations are actually tanning shops and nail parlours. The most popular "legitimate" businesses which are often a cover up for criminal activity and money laundering are: car dealerships, solariums, nail bars and massage parlours. Not quite what you’d expect from gangsters and mobsters but at least they’ll always look good.

The Mob can sob

Rumour has it that poetry competitions are popular amongst mafia and mob members and are held annually in America, no surprise there. They apparently are used for gangsters to share their emotions and help deal with the violence and crime they have to endure day to day. Poor souls!

Flower power

Charles Dean O’Banion was an Irish-American mobster who was the main rival of Johnny Torrio and Al Capone. They were rivals during the brutal Chicago bootlegging wars of the 1920s. Newspapers of his day made him better known as Dion O’Banion. He was a ruthless gangsters as well as professional singer. Strangely though what he loved in life was floral arrangement, and even owned his own flower shop called O’Banion’s. It was customary in mob culture to send flowers to the funeral of a man you shot, and O’Banion supplied flowers for most of the criminal underworld.

A Prophet is in cinemas January 22nd.