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Coup de torchon (Clean Slate) (1981)

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Average Rating: 7.5/10
Reviews Counted: 6
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 1,148

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Movie Info

Based on pulp master Jim Thompson's Pop. 1280, Bertrand Tavernier's Coup de Torchon is a sardonic thriller that remains true to its source's spirit, even as it transposes the action from the American South to colonial West Africa. Lucien (Philippe Noiret) is the bumbling police chief of Bourkasa, a dusty outpost in rural Senegal. Badgered by local thugs, Lucien initially comes across as a pathetic oaf unable to stand up for himself. Things at home are scarcely better, as Lucien finds himself

Unrated, 2 hr. 8 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Comedy

Directed By: Bertrand Tavernier

Written By: Jean Aurenche, Bertrand Tavernier

In Theaters: Nov 4, 1981 Wide

On DVD: Nov 1, 1998

Cast

Philippe Noiret
Lucien Cordier
Isabelle Huppert
Rose
Jean-Pierre Marielle
Le Peron, Le Peron's br...
St�phane Audran
Hughuette Cordier
Eddy Mitchell
Nono
Guy Marchand
Chavasson
Irene Skobline
Anne
Jean Champion
Priest
Mamadou Dioume
Mamadou
Victor Garrivier
Mercaillou
Gerard Hernandez
Leonelli
Daniel Langlet
Paulo
Francois Perrot
Col. Tramichel
Michel Beaune
Vanderbrouck

Critic Reviews for Coup de torchon (Clean Slate)

All Critics (10) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (1) | DVD (8)

Shifting the locale of Jim Thompson's novel to Colonial Africa, Tavernier has made a compelling, well acted film.

June 10, 2011 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

Clean Slate is a compelling offbeat morality play.

February 4, 2004 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

| Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

It's often hilarious. It's just that that humor is so mordant that it's sometimes hard to accept.

July 16, 2002 Full Review Source: MovieMartyr.com

| Comment

Jeremy Heilman

MovieMartyr.com

a study in amorality disguised as a sometimes shocking black comedy

March 22, 2001 Comment

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

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Audience Reviews for Coup de torchon (Clean Slate)

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This was not my favorite Jim Thompson book, but Tavernier's vision is brilliant. Truly a film of nihilism, even more awry by the jazzy score and jumpy camera revealing Noiret's diminishing psychological state. The French African colony setting was a perfect for this translation.

August 27, 2009

Stefanie C

Super Reviewer

An awesome,strong,and disturbing black comedy based on Jim Thompson's pulp novel "Pop. 1280",but reset in 1936 Equatorial Africa. Philippe Noiret is pitch-perfect as a saintly madman in a world where the concepts of good and evil have no meaning,and Isabelle Huppert is also wonderful as his sexy and beautiful mistress.

August 27, 2009