Devil's Island, French Guiana - 2 of 3

PAPILLON
Papillon is a 1973 historical adventure/drama/prison film based on the 1969 autobiography by the French convict Henri Charrière. The film stars Steve McQueen as Charrière ("Papillon") and Dustin Hoffman as Louis Dega. The film's title is French for "Butterfly", referring to Charrière's tattoo and nickname.

"Papillon", a safecracker is framed for murder, convicted and condemned to Devil’s Island. He forms an unlikely alliance with Dega, who is targeted by the other prisoners who suspect him of hiding money, agrees to finance Papillon's escape. Papillon ends up in solitary confinement for 2 years for trying to escape. Later his second escape plan is made from the prison infirmary, when he pays for a boat and he and Dega escape but their boat doesn’t make it and a nun turns them in, giving him 5 more years in solitary. They both end up on Devils Island, where the high cliffs provide a natural barrier for escape attempts. He finds Dega who has adjusted to prison life and has no interest in escaping. The third escape, jumping off the cliff, is a success and he is a free man. He writes a memoir based on his time in prison and escape attempts. For the remainder of his life, he lived a free man. The penal colony in French Guiana did not survive him". Although some say it is not a completely accurate account of Papillon’s days on the Islands, it is a very powerful movie, depicting life on the island and a friendship that helped them survive their terrible conditions.Read more