MovieChat Forums > Papillon (1973) Discussion > I'm packing my bags

I'm packing my bags

posted 15 years ago by mlspaur
5 replies | jump to latest

Just watched "Papillon" for the first time. Really enjoyed it. But, why, oh, why did Papi leave the topless beach resort - the girls were naked and they never spoke. Talk about a paradise!

And speaking of paradise. What was the deal with the prisoner who slashed his leg to avoid being sent to "The islands"? Although the film didn't deal much with the infamous Devil's Island, what I saw of it was purty sweet. No guards and every prisoner got his own waterfront garden home that looks as if it were plucked from a Kinkaide painting. Hell, if they installed running water and and premiere cable into one of those stone bungalows, I'd pay $800 a month to live there.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the filmmakers didn't really portray Devil's Island as anything more than a delighful respite from the prison and work camps on the mainland. And I really believe the place was more of a hell hole than a health spa.

[–] westside_wiipa 15 years ago

Uhm, because once you get to the Devils Island you'll NEVER get back.
Sure, if they were only gonna be there for a few years, it's great, but since it's for life, it's not the place you wanna go to.

[–] mlspaur 15 years ago

(It's "Uh" or "Um." IMDb isn't the right place to coin a new interjection.)

Anyway, was it stated somewhere in the flick that Devil's Island was a 'til-death-do-you-part kind of deal? I didn't catch that. Even so, I think if I was sent to the French penal colony at Guyana, I would have welcomed the one-way trip to Devil's Island, because the lifestyle inside the mainland facilities would kill me in six months, anyway.

[–] Promontorium 14 years ago

There were several islands. Devil's Island appeared to be the one for old and crazy prisoners, those they couldn't put to work. That guy who cut his leg wasn't worried about Devil's Island, more than one of the less pleasant islands, and he also wanted to escape, which he did as soon as he could.

[–] snr_alejandro_sosa 15 years ago

One of the islands was like that. I can't say enough how you should read the book, it's fantastic and makes the movie look pathetic.

Papi left the Indians because he has a sick need for revenge on the people who sentenced him. I think also he dreamed of being in France. It was one of the dumbest and most annoying things when I read he was planning on leaving.

He also risked his life leaving because the sisters (the sisters were his wives) wanted to kill him at first for leaving since they and their village gave him everything. Also they 2 wives were pregnant at the time!

On one hand I applaud Papi for telling the story honestly and not making himself a saint, on the other I think how stupid. Especially when he got caught again after leaving. Another con puts this point to him actually.

[–] jmurray911 15 years ago

Right, and only thing better than a woman who does'nt speak, would be one who says only three things.
1. Screw me again
2. Dinner is served
3. Your laundry is finished