Although this story is lengthy, 150 minutes, but the plot is very compact. Generally speaking, it can be divided into five parts: departure and boarding, the first escape on the island, confinement, the second escape, and the last island survival. The film structure is clear and complete, the traditional linear narrative, and the rhythm is well controlled. The dark yellow hue gives a sense of heaviness, which sets the tone of this grand movie, just like an epic.
But the content presented in the film is not always depressing, but from the perspective of Papillon, step by step towards the heaviness, the devil is in the details. From time to time, there are some easy and funny clips, but the shackles of walking, being punished and sleeping, and the sudden and daily deaths, all remind us that freedom is suppressed here, and death is common in this land. The movie is called papillon. It is not only the protagonist's nickname, but also a butterfly in French. Butterflies are free under the sky. Papillon's constant escape from prison also metaphors that his butterfly who yearns for freedom is imprisoned on this isolated island. .
The reason why this is an epic-level movie is not only because it takes 150 minutes to record the life of a person, but also because it has an extension in breadth, that is, an accurate depiction of the environment in which it is located.
The background of the story is the island of French Guiana, located in South America. Since the 17th century, this has been an overseas colony of France. After the abolition of slavery in 1848, the production of plantations could not keep up, and the local industry almost collapsed. At about the same time, France decided to reduce prison costs and emigrate prisoners to Guyana to contribute to the development of the colony. About 70,000 criminals were sent to this Alcatraz Island, including Papillon, who arrived here in the 1930s. Because of the harsh environment, most of the prisoners in exile died of malaria and fever. After World War II, Guyana was still a colony of criminals.
98% of Guyana's territory is tropical rain forest, with a forest coverage rate of 90%. In the movie, the continuous rain and the scorching sun from time to time remind us that this is a country with a tropical rainforest climate. The environment here is harsh, malaria is raging, sometimes fighting with crocodiles, sometimes sleeping with corpses, silent single prisons, and scarred prisoners are all precious details in the movie, showing the face of freedom being imprisoned.
In the story, Papillon escaped from prison twice and was deceived three times. The portrayal of the characters also adds to the depth of the movie. Facing the exiles who are desperately alive in pain, on this isolated island, the evil of human nature is also revealed. What Papillon and his companions wanted was just a small boat, but after several setbacks and a huge price, they were repeatedly deceived and still did not realize it. Merchants, doctors, and even clergy were deceiving him. The status of the crooks has risen step by step, which makes people embarrassed. Especially the last nun, the degree of moral integrity is simply outrageous. In contrast, the human goodness of another group of people is more precious. In fact, they are not really kind, but because the environment temporarily maintains "innocence", including the lepers who feel sorry for Papillon because of the same loneliness. , And the indigenous people encountered during the last escape, they all extended a helping hand to Papillon at a critical juncture.
The identities of the good and the wicked here are a set of interesting contrasts: civilized people with bright lives VS patients and primitive tribes, that is, strong groups VS disadvantaged groups. It can be seen from their behavior that even though civilization can enlighten people, it does not sublimate people’s morals. The ugliness may be hidden under the glamorous appearance. Civilization has greatly expanded human greed and desire, not only It's on this Alcatraz island, and it's the same in other corners of the world.
It is worth mentioning that in such a cruel environment, the friendship between Papillon and Degas is precious. Even though they used each other at the beginning, under the influence of Papillon’s powerful humanity, Degas Jia was completely moved, and only when his desires are imprisoned can he show the height of his personality. In the days of solitary confinement, Papillon didn't want to die, nor wanted to betray his companions, only supported by difficulties, which just reflected the stalwart of his personality. So here, we must talk about Papillon.
In the true story, the legendary figure escaped countless times on Alcatraz Island, and finally succeeded when he was old. But in the movie, in order to be more dramatic, his story was condensed into two escapes. The first time he escaped from prison was deceived, and then he was imprisoned for two full years. I personally think this segment of solitary confinement is very brilliant.
At first, he was greeted here with clean prison clothes, bright single rooms, and brand-new blankets. It seemed to be much more comfortable than a messy and noisy group prison. I don't know that mind control is far more crushing than coolies. From the empty cell next door, to the attacking bats, to the dwindling food supply, the living conditions are gradually suppressed. The processing of light will gradually devour people's loneliness and show them all. In the end, he was deprived of the right to light, and even relied on eating cockroaches and centipedes to maintain his physical strength. This kind of cold violence is the most shocking. He luckily survived. When he first left here, Papillon had empty eyes and ragged clothes, and he was old for several years at once, no different from the walking dead.
Against this loneliness, the prison outside seemed much warmer, even though it was just another cage, with at least sunshine, food, and partners. In this contrast, many prisoners were willing to live like this. But Papillon still did not give up his belief in freedom, and immediately planned a second escape from prison. After several hardships, when we thought he was about to succeed, destiny mocked him again. At the most unexpected moment, he exchanged his sincerity for the nun's betrayal, and then he was kept in confinement for five full years.
When he came out this time, Papillon looked like an old man, full of cranes and hair, thinking that he would no longer have the physical and mental strength to escape, so he and his old friend Degas were banished on the island to fend for themselves. At this time Degas had completely given up his thoughts of escape from prison. Five years of confinement had consumed all his will and edges. All he wanted to do was to live quietly while guarding the "pastoral" in his heart. Seeing this, even the audience should have accepted it and felt that his choice was not bad. There are no bars and high walls here, but there are fields and seas, and an old friend who shares weal and woe. Even though life is hard, it is much more comfortable than prison. . But Papillon once again shocked us. His eyes still have a bright look. Under five years of mental control, his body has been destroyed and his old and sick are urged, but his mind remains unchanged, and he still plans to escape.
At the end of the story, he said goodbye to his old friend, and jumped into the sea with a bag of coconut shell, without any hesitation. This jump is the soul of the movie, showing the Papillon's perpetual pursuit of freedom.
This is the Papillon in the story. His unyielding to fate made him take the risk again and again. If he just wants to leave the prison, he can wait, but he did not. Instead, he chose a more difficult one with a very low success rate. Road: escape from prison. This is not a realistic choice, but it embodies the height in the ideological sense. He is a butterfly that truly fights for freedom, pure and without any impurities. In "The Old Man and the Sea", what Hemingway wants to express is: A person may be destroyed, but not defeated, and personality can be immortal. The same applies to Papillons. This is a story about "Butterfly" and "Prison". It does not matter whether the struggle of "Butterfly" is successful or not. What is important is that his death was not defeated and succumbed by fate. This is the height of personality that is hard to reach, and it is also the charm of the butterfly.
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