Coup de Torchon (1981)

About Coup de Torchon

"Coup de Torchon" is a 1981 French crime film adaptation of Jim Thompson's novel "Pop. 1280", directed by Bertrand Tavernier. The film is set in a small town in French West Africa in 1938, where Lucien Cordier, the lone ineffectual police officer, transforms into a ruthless murderer when he declares war on the pimps, drug dealers, and corrupt officials who dominate the town.

Making / Production

The film was shot in Senegal and it sets itself apart as it diverges from Thompson's novel by transposing the setting from a southern U.S. town to French West Africa during the colonial period. Motivated by Tavernier's political and historical interests, the change of setting introduces a critique of colonial racism to the themes of corruption and moral decay.

Actors

• Philippe Noiret as Lucien Cordier: Noiret, well-known for his capacity to play flawed characters, perfectly portrays the initially buffoonish officer who turns into a cold-blooded murderer.
• Isabelle Huppert as Rose: Huppert takes on the role of Cordier's unfaithful wife, and spectacularly brings to life a woman whose cruelty and lewdness are masked by her demure front.
• Stéphane Audran as Huguette Cordier: Audran impressively delivers her part as Lucien's manipulative and equally unfaithful mistress.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The movie was not shot in the original setting of the novel, which was the American South, rather the location was changed to French West Africa, giving the narrative a unique twist.
• Coup de Torchon's screenplay was written by director Bertrand Tavernier together with Jean Aurenche, a veteran screenwriter who had been famously criticized thirty years earlier by François Truffaut.
• "Coup de Torchon" means "clean sweep" in French, signaling Lucien Cordier's intent to clear out the town's immoral elements.

Awards

"Coup de Torchon" was not only a critical hit, but also an awards darling. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and Philippe Noiret was awarded Best Actor at the 1982 César Awards for his outstanding performance.

Quotes

• "Men are the devils of the earth, and the animals are the tormented souls."
• "In this country, don't you ever forget they've been exploiting n***rs for two hundred years."

Music, Soundtrack

• Philippe Sarde composed the film's evocative score, which strikingly contrasts the brutal realities of the storyline.