Papillon [M]

Framed for murder Papillon, so named because of the butterfly tattoo on his chest, is transported for life to the penal colony of French Guiana. Imprisoned for life on the famous Devil’s Island, a place where escape is next to impossible, Papillon becomes obsessed with regaining his freedom. Together with fellow prisoner Louis Dega, Papillon works tirelessly and ceaselessly on a means of escape, refusing to let his spirit be broken by the humiliation and savage treatment from his captors. 

Based on the incredible true story and book, Papillon is a most brilliant film that shows the measure of a man and the limits he will go to take back what he has been wrongly robbed of. This movie boasts beautiful scenery playing home to great savagery, features memorable performances from both Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, has mad dream sequences that are well worth the mention, and is an unutterably incredible story to boot. Although it runs at a close two and a half hours, the length is not noticed because everything about this movie keeps your eyes on the screen and not on your watch. It’s a remarkable cinema epic! 

Framed for murder Papillon, so named because of the butterfly tattoo on his chest, is transported for life to the penal colony of French Guiana. Imprisoned for life on the famous Devil’s Island, a place where escape is next to impossible, Papillon becomes obsessed with regaining his freedom. Together with fellow prisoner Louis Dega, Papillon works tirelessly and ceaselessly on a means of escape, refusing to let his spirit be broken by the humiliation and savage treatment from his captors. 

The screenplay, adapted from the novel for the screen by Dalton Trumbo, one of Hollywood’s most celebrated, encompassed everything you could want in a movie about prison. Whilst in later years we would hail The Shawshank Redemption as the most moving and empowering story of prison friendship, before that there was Papillon. As we already know, it’s based on an incredibly true story about an undoubtedly unbreakable spirit, so right from the off we’re in good hands as far as story and character rooting-for is accounted for. 

The up-close-and-personal style of camera work that director Franklin J. Schaffer favours plays an undeniable role in conveying the story’s drama, comedy, and most direly suspenseful parts. In a particularly memorable dream sequence, the camera is then used in a most engaging way that conveys the onset of madness at that moment when it seems that the hero’s spirit might crumble after all. 

As far as the two leads are concerned, both gave dazzling performances, being a bit of an odd couple to say the least. We have Steve McQueen who really is your classic ruthless and macho hunk of meat that can be expected. What’s great about McQueen’s performance in this movie is that he does not play the role that brings about the comic relief through his egotism. Papillon is a tell-it-like-it-is-whether-it’s-good-news-or-not character and Steve played the role remarkably well. We than have Dustin Hoffman playing Dega: a scrawny, smart, I’ve-done-the-crime-I’ll-do-the-time type of character. Dustin is always good in whatever role he does so what is there to say? The chemistry between the two characters was really lovely because it wasn’t obvious in any way…until the very end. It’s a beautiful friendship. 

Starring Victor Jory, Don Gordon, Anthony Zerbe, Woodrow Parfrey, Val Avery, Gregory Sierra, Ron Soble, William Smithers, and filled with action, violence, murder, abuse, drama, and suspense, Papillon is a wholly remarkable piece of cinema that will have any audience enrapt from beginning to the very end.