Synopsis
Henri “Papillon” Charrière, a safecracker from the Parisian underworld, is wrongfully convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the penal colony of French Guiana, where he forges a strong friendship with Louis Dega, a counterfeiter who needs his protection.
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Cast
- Charlie HunnamHenri 'Papillon' Charrière
- Rami MalekLouis Dega
- Christopher FairbankJean Castili
- Eve HewsonNennete
- Michael SochaJulot
- Brian VernelGuittou
- Nicholas AsburyCommandant
- Louisa PiliClara
- Antonio de la CruzTribouillard
- Andre FlynnGalgani
Recommendations
- 75
The Film Stage
Noer isn’t interested in the pulpy, wannabe mythic journey of Papillon when there’s a meatier through-line highlighting our humanity in dire straits. Rather than make his film about how far our bodies can go, he seeks to portray the lengths are hearts will. - 70
Variety
On its own terms, Noer’s adventure is ultimately a dramatic and dynamic-enough telling of an indelible fact-based story to connect with viewers. - 70
Village Voice
This new version, directed by Danish filmmaker Michael Noer, brings to the story a refreshing intensity and sweep, and even a sense of adventure. - 60
The Guardian
Hunnam and Malek both hold up their end of the deal. Noer, for his part, meets them halfway by conjuring golden-hued beauty for the jungle surroundings and a due griminess for the danker chambers of their holding compound. He doesn’t overcomplicate things for himself, keeping the clunky dialogue to a minimum and focusing on the guiding light of Papi’s indomitable willpower. - 50
Screen Daily
The remake of Papillon doesn’t lack for potential metaphorical riches, yet this brutal, bruising film never quite connects with its deeper themes, resulting in a story full of suffering but not enough transcendence. - 50
Slant Magazine
This remake proffers the sort of cinematic nowhere place that's all too common of an increasingly corporate, globalized cinema. - 50
Entertainment Weekly
As for the new Papillon, it wisely doubles down on high adventure, but it’s still as lifeless as its predecessor. Just in different ways. - 40
The Hollywood Reporter
There’s no real voice in the storytelling, nothing distinctive about the imagery, if it’s not a doubling up on the violence and gore, and the result doesn’t remotely resonate in the same way.
