This movie tells how religion can be used to lead people to fanatism. By extremist which is the purpose this film want to demonstrate, but not only it could be anyone with hidden motive (and actually preacher in "hidden" mosque are compared to sect leader by the way they brainwash their followers).

We follow a journalist, that intends to write a book on extremist islam in France. The comeback from Afghanistan from one guy transforms it in the making of an jihad group in Paris, and the vicious circle is triggered.

The point of view chosen, of this journalist, is interesting as it creates an objective distance with the ideas, the easiness everything progress towards the worst. It also shows how someone that do not share these ideas can still be affected, only because of the links created with others. And of course, it adds a tension in the movie wether or not he will be uncovered. The realistic treatment given to the initial situation and story adds to that and makes it a really interesting movie, that is worth many "headline investigations" that water on TV, especially the first part.

Of course, not everything is realistic, some characters are'nt that convincing (and tries too much to handle every kind of possible jihadist) and their development can be too quick. The second part of the movie is more evolving into a genre movie but keeps things at a realistic level. It tells above all of the easiness with which lost lambs can fall into fanatism traps.

I have many thoughts about this

The Historical Perspective, Mohammad was a Military Commander his HUGE Armies were conquering "the Known World", his Main problem is how to feed that many. Mohammad then wrote the Holy Koran demanding that All Nations Support his Armies, All Must Join his Armies. His Armies conquered Spain and the Southern Part of Christendom. To provide for so many so far from Arabic Nations. Only 5 Suras say "Peace" after all the Christians, Jew,s, Unbelievers become "Subjugated" to Muslims (basically become Muslims).

Another Sura, mentions that the Prophets of the Christians, Jesus Christ is False, and Death to those that proselytize, the same Sura also mentions that the Jews Prophet of Moses as a False Prophet.

Mohammad's Soldiers got up before dawn ate and drank, then went into Combat without Food or Water to "encumber" them during Combat, then when too dark to fight, evening they returned to Camps ate and drank, this is where the "Fasting" of Ramadan comes from, to Honor the Mohammad Armies, same as each Day of Ramadan Celebrates the Defeats, Conquests, Massacres of the Christians, Jews< Unbelievers, with the Holy Koran's 109 Suras of the 114 Suras being the Written Declaration of War against the Christians, Jews, Unbelievers.

Muslims Versus French goes all the way back to the French Colonial Empire, French Colonies at Syria, Algeria, etc., at Paris they had the Algeria Muslim Crisis, that included Riots, bombings of Police Stations, Murders of Police, firebombings. At French Colony Algeria the situation was worse, extreme brutality learned by the French at French Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) only created more seeking Revenge.

As U.S. Army Special Forces, during the Vietnam War as trained to conduct "Counter Insurgency Warfare", and having to do that at the UK later and as a U.S. Military Joint Services Special Warfare Officer, the idea of doing "Insurgency Warfare" during CIA Operation Cyclone and "Counter Insurgency Warfare" (including infiltration) at later times. The shear brutality of Insurgency Warfare, Counter Insurgency Warfare (aka Counter Terrorist Warfare) is not completely depicted.

After all the deployments, missions, Cultural Anthropology including Madrassa, every time I hear "Radicalized" I know that they do not know much, nor do they want to learn including not even reading the Holy Koran, the Hadith Ancient Customs as Muslim Laws instead of Fiqh (roughly Logic) as Muslim Laws. After the death of Mohammad, Mohammad did not name a Successor, Two of his Commanders got into a dispute, the Sunnis Commander believed that the Holy Koran was a "Guideline", the Shia Commander believed that the Holy Koran was literally Word for Word as Law. The Shia Commander ended the argument quickly by Murdering the Sunnis Commander starting the Centuries Old War between Sunnis and Shia. Historically, Shia end disputes this way.

Whenever I hear people say Muslim "Religion", I almost have to laugh, thinking back to when I met Gene Roddenberry (Creator of Star Trek, Klingons) as he was a Bombardier Navigator of the U.S. Army Air Corps stationed at North Africa a Muslim Nation as to where he got the idea for the Klingon's "culture of War", NOT a "Religion". That "Religion" thing is Taqiya.

The movie is a great thriller but when you realize it is real life events happening all around us - you get one hell of a ride. I hope Muslims will make their kids and family watch this so the Muslim Religion will be parted away from this current way of recruiting the weak and troubled - to do horrific acts of terror . I wish this movie will be part of the school teaching - just as movies to avoid drug use or other acts of violence . Go see this and give a high rating .. you will encourage others to watch it too . The characters were interesting and the directing was superb . I'll try to look out for more movies by this director.