Steve McQueen gives a remarkable performance portraying Henri "Papillon" Charrière, an individual wrongly accused of murder and condemned to imprisonment within the French Guiana penal colony. Upon arrival, he swiftly grasps the extreme harshness of a prison system where any trace of kindness or compassion has disappeared. He forms an alliance with “Dega” (Dustin Hoffman), a man of means and a skilled forger who anticipates his release documents will soon appear. McQueen consents to watch over Hoffman in exchange for financial assistance that would allow him to attempt an escape. Throughout their time incarcerated, they develop an unexpected bond as they face the severe prison environment and try to avoid dangerous fellow inmates—each harboring some kind of grievance. While I don’t consider Hoffman to be a particularly compelling actor; his performances often feel like imitations rather than genuine portrayals—I would contend that this represents McQueen's most intense and realistic work yet, and the feelings of suffering, hardship, and optimism he conveys are truly absorbing. The film concludes with some photographs taken at the facility in the early 1970s, which powerfully illustrate just how inhumane these institutions were.

Source on TMDB