Clean Slate

1938: Lucien Cordier (Philippe Noiret) is the police chief in Bourkassa, a small village in French colonial Senegal. He is confronted by disrespect and humiliation in all aspects of his life, from his cheating wife to neighbouring officers, who constantly undermine his authority. One day he snaps and, with his complicit mistress Rose (Isabelle Huppert), seeks unchecked vengeance on all those who have wronged him. Bertrand Tavernier comedy thriller is a film to behold. Through an airtight script, adapted from Jim Thompson’s book, Tavernier loosely adapts Céline’s masterpiece Voyage au bout de la nuit to shine a light on the folly of colonialism and the disastrous effect it has on the psyche of those trapped in the middle of such an unnatural atmosphere. The lauded Noiret and Huppert are ideal in the central roles, effortlessly encapsulating the simmering disquiet lurking beneath seemingly harmless facades. The experience is an engrossing and unsettling one, as the hilarity of Tavernier’s set ups is offset by an equal morbidity. This is dark comedy at its best. Add to that some striking cinematography of the colonial landscape and another scorching score from Philippe Sarde and you have a film worthy of its multiple awards and nominations (including for the Best Foreign Film Oscar).