When it comes to great prison break movies, there are few more iconic than Papillon, the 1973 classic that starred Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen. While The Shawshank Redemption may be a more emotional film and Escape From Alcatraz has more exciting action, Papillon was ahead of its time in how it depicted the grueling living conditions faced by men behind bars. Although Papillon was highly influential on the next several decades of prison films, it’s also a work of art that has shown its age, and does not hold up as well on repeated viewings compared to other classics from the New Hollywood era. The remake of Papillon created a more emotional, visceral depiction of survivalism, and benefited from the excellent performances by Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek.
What Makes the ‘Papillon’ Remake Different?
Hunnam stars in Papillon as the brilliant safecracker Henri Charrière, who is imprisoned by the French authorities after being framed for a murder that he did not commit. Given that he does not have enough money to pay for a proper legal defense, Henri is sent to the Devil’s Island penal colony in French Guiana, a prison regarded as a “living hell” because no one has ever escaped. Although there are a few of his fellow inmates who give him even the slightest bit of sympathy, Henri forms a connection with the enigmatic counterfeit Louis Dega, played by Malek. While he has been bullied and abused by the other prisoners and guards, Dega has been able to hide a secret amount of money, which may prove useful in financing his escape. Henri and Dega form an alliance to escape together, but first must carefully plot their mission to not attract the suspicions of the guards.
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The remake of Papillon does a better job of analyzing the historical context than the original, as it shows why Henri and Dega were specifically vulnerable to the justice system. Henri has been forced by poverty to steal for a living, which has allowed the French authorities to treat him like a second-class citizen; because the authorities want to enforce harsh consequences for even the most minor of crimes, they have yielded complete authority over the prison system to those who run it, allowing them to commit horrific acts of torture. Dega may have once received more of a formal education, but the fact that he is an ethnic minority who is not physically imposing has made him very vulnerable given the crime-ridden nature of Devil’s Island. It is interesting to see how the relationship forms between the two characters, and how they learn from each other; as Dega learns to be more physically adept, Henri begins to develop the deceptive techniques that make his new friend’s talents so lucrative.
Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek Are a Great Team in ‘Papillion’
While both McQueen and Hoffman deliver charismatic performances in the original, Malek and Hunnam make their versions of the characters worthy of emotional investment in the remake of Papillon. The early scenes detailing how Henri was incarcerated are critical, as they establish that he was able to save his lover, Nenette (Eve Hewson), from also being imprisoned; while it’s unclear at what place their relationship was in, the idea of returning to her gives Henri something to yearn for as he tries to make his escape. Malek’s performance is even more heartbreaking, as he shows how Dega is so thoroughly traumatized that he begins to accept the parameters of his new situation. Unlike the original, the new Papillon shows the mental and emotional trauma that the prisoners suffered, and not just the physical pressure.
Papillon is both epic and scope and remarkably intimate, as while it does a great job at recreating a very specific historical period, many of the best scenes are the smaller moments of contemplation between the characters. The outline of the prison is so well-defined that it becomes completely immersive, making the final escape sequence even more exciting than it already was. While many cinephiles would cringe at the prospect of remaking a beloved classic, the Papillon remake showed that even well-regarded films have the potential to be improved.
Papillon
- Release Date
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September 7, 2017
- Runtime
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134 minutes
- Director
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Michael Noer
- Writers
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Aaron Guzikowski
- Producers
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David Koplan, Joshua Maurer, Kevan Van Thompson, Ram Bergman, Terence Chang, Joey McFarland, Roger Corbi
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