Rette deine Haut (2001)

German filmmakers are not necessarily known for their romantic comedies, which is perhaps why Rette deine Haut (2001) is a superbly paced, emotionally tense detective thriller that pits compromised ethics against blood loyalties. According to the vision of director Lars Becker, a dirty policeman is a happy policeman as long as his pay packet is suitably swollen. But along comes a day when the gangsters who have been obligingly corrupting the cops step over the line and discipline a badge holder, dealing him a fatal reprimand. Suddenly, all that stolen money doesn't spend so sweet, and the tainted hero is at war with himself, his colleagues, and the thugs who have been tugging his strings.