Wrongfully convicted for murder, Henri Charriere forms an unlikely relationship with fellow inmate and quirky convicted counterfeiter Louis Dega, in an attempt to escape from the notorious penal colony on Devil's Island.
Based on the international best-selling autobiographic books "Papillon" and "Banco", PAPILLON follows the epic story of Henri "Papillon" Charrière (Charlie Hunnam), a safecracker from the Parisian underworld who is framed for murder and condemned to life in the notorious penal colony on Devil's Island. Determined to regain his freedom, Papillon forms an unlikely alliance with quirky convicted counterfeiter Louis Dega (Rami Malek), who in exchange for protection, agrees to finance Papillon's escape.
Papillon was shot in different locations around Europe including Montenegro, Malta, and significantly, in Belgrade, Serbia. See more »
Goofs
The prison warden says Henri Charrière was in solitary for 5 years but he was only in for 2 after being recaptured. He was also only about 32 years old at this time but has gone completely gray. See more »
Quotes
Warden Barrot:
Do you think a person knows when he's going mad? Or do you think it's blissful ignorance?
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Alternate Versions
German theatrical version was cut by distributor Constantin by approx. 15 minutes to reduce running time. See more »
King Kong / The Sailors / The Escape
Written by Max Steiner
Performed by Moscow Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by William T. Stromberg (as William Stromberg)
Courtesy of Naxos
By arrangement with Source/Q See more »
To try and reproduce a former classic is getting out of hand. Directors have no insight into new subjects. Leave the classics alone