Coup de Torchon

The film opens during a July 1938 solar eclipse. Lucien Cordier watches starving African children eat sand to quell their hunger, and he lights a fire to warm them as the Sun disappears. This stark moment establishes the harsh social realities that frame his subsequent actions.

Cordier is the town's sole policeman, deeply humiliated by a community that scorns him. His wife Huguette openly lives with her lover Nono, while Rose endures an abusive marriage, and Vanderbrouck mocks him publicly. The combination of personal betrayal and public disrespect pushes him toward a drastic response.

Pimps who flout the law push Cordier toward decisive action. He seeks counsel from his superior, Chavasson, who advises him to take strong, unambiguous steps against those who harass him. The pressure builds as Cordier contemplates ending the corruption around him.

On the train back, Cordier meets the new French teacher, Anne, whose warmth draws him in. The encounter marks a personal turning point, giving him a sense of connection beyond his isolated role. It sets the stage for his increasingly calculated bravado.

Back in the town, Cordier confronts the pimps alone and shoots them dead. He disposes of their bodies in the river, removing the most immediate threats to his grip on power. The act signals his willingness to bypass the law to achieve his aims.

Chavasson discovers the murders, but Cordier implicates his superior in the deed. By turning the power dynamics around, Cordier reinforces his control and signals that anyone who opposes him is a target. The line between lawman and vigilante becomes blurred.

Cordier turns his rage on Rose's abusive husband, who meets the same fate as the pimps. The killings widen his purge from individual offenders to anyone who questions his authority. The town's violence escalates as he escalates his actions.

Cordier eliminates Vanderbrouck by dumping him in a privy. The act demonstrates that no one, not even the powerful, is beyond his reach. It deepens the sense that Cordier has become an instrument of his own retribution.

Nono, who has spied on Cordier and watched Anne in the shower, is beaten by Cordier. The brutal suppression extends to those who merely threaten to reveal his secrets. The scene underscores how far Cordier has fallen from his oath to uphold the law.

The pimp's servant returns with the master's body, and Rose accidentally reveals Cordier's dark secret. In a subsequent act, Cordier kills an African boy he accuses of sucking up to white people. The violence broadens to victims who cannot fight back.

On the day of Rose's husband's funeral, the pimp's twin brother arrives in town to confront Cordier. The confrontation intensifies the sense that vendetta has no end, and the town braces for further violence. Tension tightens as old loyalties fray.

Cordier confesses his despair and crimes to Anne, then steals the money Huguette had saved to leave him. He heads to Rose's house to reinforce his control over her future. The confession deepens his bond with Anne while sharpening his manipulation of Rose.

Huguette and Nono arrive to confront Cordier and are met by Rose instead. Cordier hides in the yard as events unfold; in a struggle, Rose shoots them both in self-defense. Cordier then hands Rose the stolen money and urges her to flee and support herself.

After the carnage, Cordier remains with Anne and the life they have carved out together. He has severed ties with Huguette, Rose, and the others, leaving him isolated yet momentarily free. The relationship with Anne endures as a fragile counterpoint to his violence.

In the closing scene, Cordier sits alone under a tree, watching a starving native child. He reaches for his revolver, about to kill, but more children arrive—the same group from the opening scene. He pauses, caressing the weapon as the scene fades.