Coup de torchon
France • 1981 • 2h 8m
Director
#106Criterion Collection →Synopsis
An inspired rendering of Jim Thompson’s pulp novel POP. 1280, Bertrand Tavernier’s COUP DE TORCHON deftly transplants the story of an inept police chief turned heartless killer and his scrappy mistress from the American South to French West Africa. Featuring pitch-perfect performances by Philippe Noiret and Isabelle Huppert, this striking neonoir straddles the line between violence and lyricism with dark humor and visual elegance.
Synopsis
An inspired rendering of Jim Thompson’s pulp novel POP. 1280, Bertrand Tavernier’s COUP DE TORCHON deftly transplants the story of an inept police chief turned heartless killer and his scrappy mistress from the American South to French West Africa. Featuring pitch-perfect performances by Philippe Noiret and Isabelle Huppert, this striking neonoir straddles the line between violence and lyricism with dark humor and visual elegance.
Credits
Crew
DirectorBertrand Tavernier
WriterJean Aurenche, Bertrand Tavernier
CinematographerPierre-William Glenn
ComposerPhilippe Sarde
EditorArmand Psenny
ProducerHenri Lassa, Adolphe Viezzi
Cast
Philippe Noiretas Lucien Cordier
Isabelle Huppertas Rose Mercaillou
Jean-Pierre Marielleas Le Peron / Le Peron's twin brother