Coup de torchon

Description

The French policeman Cordier leads a sad existence in a remote village in French West Africa. He is betrayed by his wife and harassed by a racist pimp. Then everything comes to a head: Cordier's policy of pacifism and opportunism ends, and he rises to become a ruthless judge over his enemies. "With echoes of Kafka, Genet, and Beckett, Bertrand Tavernier's brilliant adaptation of Jim Thompson's pulp novel 'Pop. 1280' from 1964 plays in a moral no-man's land. Thompson's novels are all disturbing studies of amorality, stories in which we are forced to identify with someone whom circumstances compel to do terrible things – a perspective that finds its full expression in the darkness of American film noir: But Coup de torchon is atmospherically the exact opposite: The composer Philippe Sarde, a frequent collaborator of Tavernier, provides a moodful, jazzy, quirky film score; cinematographer Pierre-William Glenn skillfully captures a bright and airy landscape burned by the relentless, scorching sun." (Michael Dare, Criterion, May 2001) Cast and additional information: Director: Bertrand Tavernier Screenplay: Jean Aurenche, Bertrand Tavernier Author: Jim Thompson Cinematography: Pierre-William Glenn Music: Philippe Sarde Editing: Armand Psenny Cast: Philippe Noiret (Lucien Cordier), Isabelle Huppert (Rose Mercaillou), Stéphane Audran (Huguette Cordier), Jean-Pierre Marielle (Le Péron), Eddy Mitchell (Nono), Guy Marchand (Chavasson), Irène Skobline (Anne), Michel Beaune (Vanderbrouck), Jean Champion (Priest)