Papillon

There are books that are simply destined for success. «Papillon» by Henri Charrière is either a fantastic variation on the theme of autobiography or a true story that became a bestseller shortly after its publication in 1969: in three years,... about 10 million copies were printed, and filmmakers competed for the right to adapt it for the big screen. Henri Charrière, nicknamed Papillon, was accused of murder at the age of 25, sentenced to life imprisonment, and thus began the most extraordinary of his adventures. In the penal colony in French Guiana, he underwent incredible trials, repeatedly finding himself on the brink of death, but the instinct for survival and his unquenchable love of freedom ultimately helped him regain his liberty. In 1973, American director Franklin J. Schaffner adapted «Papillon» (starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman) - this film is now rightly regarded as a classic of cinema - and in 2017, Michael Noer directed a remake with Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek.