Papillon

Dieser atemberaubende Film über die (Un)Freiheit des Menschen und seines Geistes hat sich aus Charrières Vorlage auf eine schlaue Art und Weise nicht die besten, aber definitiv die attraktivsten Passagen herausgepickt. Dadurch ist er unvergesslich geworden. Schon die Ankunft in der Kolonie (z. B. die Szene mit der Guillotine) lässt niemanden daran zweifeln, dass der Name Teufelsinsel nicht von ungefähr kommt. Das, was in den folgenden zwei Stunden passiert, unterstreicht alles. Die klaustrophobische Szene mit der Einzelhaft, von der ich dann mehrmals geträumt habe, die vergeblichen Fluchtversuche, welche dazu führen, dass Papillons Sehnsucht nach Freiheit immer stärker wird, das Herzinfarkt-Finale… Und so weiter und so fort. Großartig ist der Film vor allem dank McQueen und Hoffman, Schaffners bedrückender Regie und natürlich auch der angenehm melancholischen Musik von Jerry Goldsmith. Fünf Sterne. Und das wird sich nie ändern. (12.08.2010)

The craftsmanship is absolutely top-notch, the atmosphere absorbs you and doesn't let you breathe a sigh of relief. But it is also unforgivably lengthy and at times truly empty, like the same magnificent Da Vinci painting hanging on every wall of a gallery. The actors are amazing, the idea is immortal, boredom is sometimes present. 80% (25.02.2018)

To tell the truth, I had to watch it twice because I was getting terribly bored already before it reached the middle. Papillon is unremarkably executed, without any escalation, with a story that never has a chance of being interesting; very disappointing overall. It felt like a TV movie that by some miracle managed to get a star cast, which gave the creators the mistaken idea that they didn’t need to do anything else. Boring, grey. (23.01.2009)

While The Shawshank Redemption exudes poetry and vitality, Papillon displays things without embellishment and a hefty dose of brutality. Violence or perhaps brutality are not directly visible, but thanks to expertly built atmosphere and skillful camera work, we will feel as if we were there with the prisoners. Even after years, the film has not lost any of its impact and still stands as one of the best creations in its genre. The fact that Steve McQueen literally sacrificed himself for the role is well-known, and his transformation in prison is truly powerful. (02.01.2006)

Steve McQueen undergoes such a physical transformation during the film that when I see his sunken cheeks and decrepit body, I'm inclined to believe he actually spent those years in solitary confinement. The whole film feels raw and very real. Putting aside Darabont's The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, Papillon is the best prison drama ever made and the fact that it is based on a true story adds to its quality. (13.04.2003)