Clean Slate (Coup de torchon)

1938, in a French West African colony. Lucien Cordier is the lackadaisical law officer of this village, populated with blacks and a few whites (usually dumb, racist and lustful). Lucien is the general laughing stock of the township, a washout. Everyone - including his wife Huguette - humiliates him. He never arrests anyone and looks elsewhere when a dirty trick occurs. But one day, he undergoes a complete transformation of character when - after shooting a pair of pimps - he sets out to get rid of everybody who is torn in his side, including his wife whose death he contrives, and his mistress whom he frames. Philippe Noiret is excellent in his role of cop who turns into a machiavellian exterminating angel.