Can a remake of a classic prison escape story ever truly break free?
In short: The 2017 film Papillon revisits the harrowing true-life tale of Henri Charrière, a safecracker framed for murder and sent to the inescapable Devil's Island. While the film offers a fresh perspective on the bond between two convicts, it faces the heavy shadow of a legendary 1973 predecessor.
Directed by Michael Noer and written by Aaron Guzikowski, the 2017 adaptation of Papillon draws from the autobiographies of Henri Charrière. The narrative follows Charrière, played by Charlie Hunnam, and his alliance with Louis Dega, a counterfeiter portrayed by Rami Malek. Their journey begins in 1933 when Charrière is wrongly imprisoned in the notorious French Guiana penal colony. The film chronicles multiple escape attempts, highlighting the brutal conditions of the prison system and the unlikely friendship forged between the two men as they navigate violence, solitary confinement, and the treacherous jungle.
The production of the film was notable for being the final project from Red Granite Pictures before the company closed in 2018. Shot across diverse European locations including Montenegro, Malta, and Belgrade, the film premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. Despite its solid production values and committed performances, the film received mixed critical reception. Critics often compared it unfavorably to the 1973 version, which starred Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman and featured a screenplay by Dalton Trumbo and Lorenzo Semple Jr.
The historical context provided in the film's postscript underscores the gravity of the setting. Over 80,000 prisoners were sent to the French Guiana colony, with most never returning to France. Charrière’s own memoir, Papillon, achieved massive success, spending 21 weeks as the number one bestseller in France and selling over 13 million copies worldwide. By 1970, the French Minister of Justice granted Charrière permission to return to France, where he lived as a free man until his death. The penal colony itself was eventually shuttered, marking the end of a dark chapter in history.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Papillon (2017 film)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-papillon-2017-film.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
