Set in a dismal and dusty village in the remote wilds of French West Africa right before World War II, Coup de torchon is about the life of the town's bumbling police chief, Lucien Cordier. Endlessly abused by his wife, her simpleton "brother", and constantly beat up by two filthy pimps, Lucien's life is certainly not one to envy. But one day, after a particular nasty (and literal) ass-kicking, Lucien decides he has had enough and blows the brains out of the two pimps. Next up on the list is his mistress's brutish husband. Soon Lucien finds himself caught up in a twisting game of deception and murder, as the once gentle buffoon who would not even hurt a fly turns into a sociopathic, self-serving killer. Despite being based on a pulpy crime novel (an American one, set in the deep south no less), Coup de torchon is more of a rambunctious and bizarre dark comedy than it is a hard-boiled crime drama. What is quite fascinating is how well French West Africa stands in for the deep south; racism and violence are endemic, and life is, in the words of Thomas Hobbes, "nasty, brutish, and short. Tavernier's direction, however, is by turns graceful, energetic, and colorful. The film is certainly a pleasure to look at, and has a catchy soundtrack. Additionally, there is an all-star cast here, with Philippe Noiret and Isabelle Huppert at the helm. Coup de torchon is essential eighties French cinema, and a wonderful discovery.
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