Papillon
Based on the international best-selling autobiographical books "Papillon" and "Banco", PAPILLON follows the epic story of Henri "Papillon" Charrière (Charlie Hunnam), a safecracker from the Parisian underworld who is framed for murder and condemned to life in the notorious penal colony on Devil's Island. Determined to regain his freedom, Papillon forms an unlikely alliance with quirky convicted counterfeiter Louis Dega (Rami Malek), who in exchange for protection, agrees to finance Papillon's escape.
The film earned $10.1M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Papillon (2017) showcases strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Michael Noer's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 14 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Papillon is a successful safecracker living freely in 1930s Paris, showing his confidence and skill in the criminal underworld before his world is shattered.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Papillon arrives at the French Guiana penal colony and witnesses its brutal violence, disease, and death firsthand. The gate closes behind him, marking his entry into hell.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 33 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Papillon makes his first escape attempt with a group of prisoners, actively choosing to risk death rather than accept his imprisonment. He crosses into the world of the hunted fugitive., moving from reaction to action.
At 67 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Papillon emerges from two years of solitary confinement, physically broken and hallucinating. This false defeat raises the stakes—can a man this damaged still pursue freedom? The fun and games are over; survival itself is now the question., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 101 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Papillon is sent to five years in solitary confinement on Devil's Island. This is the whiff of death—the system has finally found a way to kill his spirit. He faces the annihilation of his identity and will., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 107 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Papillon prepares his final escape using coconut sacks as flotation. He studies the waves, waits for the right moment, and executes his plan. He leaps from the cliff into the violent ocean, riding the waves away from Devil's Island toward freedom., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Papillon's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Papillon against these established plot points, we can identify how Michael Noer utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Papillon within the adventure genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Papillon is a successful safecracker living freely in 1930s Paris, showing his confidence and skill in the criminal underworld before his world is shattered.
Theme
A character warns Papillon about the cost of freedom and that "no man can tame the sea," foreshadowing his journey and establishing the film's core question: what price will you pay to be free?
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Papillon's arrest for murder, his framing, sentencing to life imprisonment, and the brutal reality of the French penal system. The prison ship journey to French Guiana establishes the horrific world he now inhabits.
Disruption
Papillon arrives at the French Guiana penal colony and witnesses its brutal violence, disease, and death firsthand. The gate closes behind him, marking his entry into hell.
Resistance
Papillon meets Louis Dega and negotiates their protection-for-funding arrangement. He learns the rules of survival in the colony, forms alliances, and begins planning his first escape while navigating the dangerous prison hierarchy.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Papillon makes his first escape attempt with a group of prisoners, actively choosing to risk death rather than accept his imprisonment. He crosses into the world of the hunted fugitive.
Premise
Papillon is recaptured and endures his first brutal stint in solitary confinement. This section delivers the promise of the premise: watching an indomitable spirit tested against the cruelest system imaginable. His friendship with Dega deepens.
Midpoint
Papillon emerges from two years of solitary confinement, physically broken and hallucinating. This false defeat raises the stakes—can a man this damaged still pursue freedom? The fun and games are over; survival itself is now the question.
Opposition
Papillon recovers and makes another escape attempt, but is captured again. The system tightens its grip. He is transferred to Devil's Island, the most secure facility, and faces an additional five years in solitary. His body ages, and hope becomes harder to maintain.
Collapse
Papillon is sent to five years in solitary confinement on Devil's Island. This is the whiff of death—the system has finally found a way to kill his spirit. He faces the annihilation of his identity and will.
Crisis
Papillon endures the dark night of the soul in prolonged solitary. He emerges an old man, gray and weathered. Dega has adapted to prison life and chooses to stay. Papillon must face whether his dream of freedom has cost him everything.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Papillon prepares his final escape using coconut sacks as flotation. He studies the waves, waits for the right moment, and executes his plan. He leaps from the cliff into the violent ocean, riding the waves away from Devil's Island toward freedom.