Billy Moore kick-boxes and does drugs in Thailand. One lands him in a Thai prison, which appears worse than a Turkish prison. He represents his prison in a kick-box tournament and then gets out writes a book and makes a movie about it.

That is it. Based on a true story. Acting was fine, I just didn't find the film entertaining about how one guy messed up his own life. Mostly prison scenes which don't appeal to me.

Guide: sex and nudity.

Films about prisons and martial arts are usually attractive. "A Prayer Before Dawn" is a combination of the two genres and the most important: based on the true story of the English boxer William "Billy" Moore brilliantly performed by Joe Cole. The story of the addicted in heroin boxer that is arrested in Thailand and sent to a notorious prison, learning Muay Thay and winning an important tournament that changed his life gives the sensation of a documentary shot in a prison in Thailand. The plot and scenes are realistic and brutal, totally different from most of the Hollywood productions of the genre. It is not in the same level of the masterpiece "Midnight Express", but expresses the sensation of a Caucasian in a foreigner prison. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): Not Available

Our main character here (based on a real individual) is quite bland. You may have issues really relating to him - and I totally get it if you are not into the movie because of it. Having said that, the story and journey of this individual is quite harrowing. Really tough to watch and one of the "must see real life prison" movies I'd say.

We may judge and have our opinion on the main guy, but even so I don't think anyone would think he deserves the treatment/punishment he gets in the prison system he gets locked up in ... really disturbing stuff and not for the faint hearted or easily offended people for sure. And the struggle to survive is real as it seems ... but will he be able to do so?