Papillon

There’s a really quite sad story contained within this short, sketch-style, animation. It’s inspired by the life of Alfred Nakache. He was a French Algerian, dark skinned and Jewish swimmer who just happened to be at the top of his game just as the munificence of National Socialism was extending throughout Europe. Initially his fellow competitors rally around as he becomes the victim of discrimination, but as that becomes more enshrined in law he, his wife and child have to resort to desperate measures to stay safe. When these don’t work, the war duly takes it’s toll. Against a backdrop of his constant swimming, we learn much about this young man - originally afraid of water, of his family and of his ultimate situation and by using the constant presence of water throughout, we are shown some of the joys and menace that have followed his life. Even a portentous Swastika makes an appearance. His swimming stroke is the butterfly, but perhaps there is something of the chrysalis about the man’s tale?