The epic story of Henri “Papillon” Charrière comes to life in the latest offering by the Brock University Film Society (BUFS).

Papillon is based on Charrière’s bestselling memoir about his wrongful conviction for murder and subsequent incarceration in the notorious French penal colony, Devil’s Island. The film, directed by Danish-born Michael Noer, will be screened on Thursday, Oct. 18 at the Film House in downtown St. Catharines.

A safecracker from the Parisian underworld, Papillon (Charlie Hunnam), so named because of the butterfly tattoo on his chest, is framed for murder and condemned to life on Devil’s Island. While there, he forms an unlikely alliance with quirky counterfeiter and fellow convict Louis Dega (Rami Malek), who agrees to finance Papillon’s escape in exchange for protection.

Comparisons with the 1973 adaptation of the film are inevitable. According to The Guardian, “Noer’s turned out a fine film in its own right, and political developments in the decades since the last adaptation have even lent the script a newfound significance. The story may not have changed, but the world into which it’s getting released sure has.”

Tickets for all BUFS events are available at the Film House at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre on the evening of screenings. General admission is $9 or $7 for members, plus tax. Memberships are available through the Film House website.

Check out the BUFS web page for a full list of this season’s selections. A calendar of films coming to PAC over the next couple of months is posted on the Film House website. Look for the red B that indicates a BUFS-hosted screening.

For more than 40 years, the Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film has hosted the film society (previously known as a series) to bring some of the best in independent, international and Canadian cinema to St. Catharines.