Le placard (2001)

A man spreads the rumor of his fake homosexuality with the aid of his neighbor, to prevent his imminent firing at his work.

Director:

Francis Veber

Writers:

Francis Veber (dialogue), Francis Veber (screenplay)

Stars:

Daniel Auteuil, Gérard Depardieu, Thierry Lhermitte

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Daniel Auteuil	...	François Pignon
Gérard Depardieu	...	Félix Santini
Thierry Lhermitte	...	Guillaume
Michèle Laroque	...	Mlle Bertrand
Jean Rochefort	...	Kopel, the director
Alexandra Vandernoot	...	Christine
Stanislas Forlani	...	Franck (as Stanislas Crevillén)
Michel Aumont	...	Belone, the neighbour
Edgar Givry	...	Mathieu
Thierry René	...	Victor (as Thierry Ashanti)
Armelle Deutsch	...	Ariane
Michèle Garcia	...	Madame Santini
Laurent Gamelon	...	Alba
Vincent Moscato	...	Ponce
Irina Ninova	...	Martine

Storyline

François Pignon, a very bland sort of man who works as an accountant in a rubber factory, is about to be fired. His new neighbour comes up with an idea to prevent such a thing to happen: he spreads the rumor that he's gay so that the factory management might be afraid they'll be sued for sexual discrimination. Of course, nothing happens as it should, but the changes in François Pignon's life -and other people's too- is drastic !

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Plot Keywords:

homophobia | pretending to be gay | homosexual | gay pride | homosexuality | 

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Taglines:

To protect his job, he's come out of the closet he never went into!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a scene of sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

10 August 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ein Mann sieht rosa

Filming Locations:

La Maison du Chocolat, 225 rue due Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris 8, Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

FRF 95,130,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$85,253, 1 July 2001, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$6,671,454, 11 November 2001

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gaumont, EFVE, TF1 Films Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Francis Veber: [François Pignon] features a likeable idiot called François Pignon.

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Goofs

Around 00:20:18, Ariane's arm is on the chair's armrest. On the next shot, her arm is on the desk.

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Quotes

Belone, the neighbour: I was fired for same reason they're keeping you on. Amazing how things evolve, huh?

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Connections

Spoofs Les nuits fauves (1992)

User Reviews

Great comedy! Its parts fit together like a Chinese wood block puzzle

English: "The Closet"

This reminded me in some ways of M. Hulot (Le Vacance de M. Hulot, the greatest comedy I've ever seen), in others of some of the best of the Alec Guiness comedies. Not for style but for quality. It's at their level.

There were fine performances by all the main characters but I was fascinated by the unfolding of the plot. All the pieces fit together so intricately and well and so few liberties were taken of normal human reactions -- almost everything was within comfortable bonds of believability. Well, there were a couple of minor stretches -- the catalyzing role of a sexual encounter in finally transforming M. Pignon's personality was one, but wouldn't that be quaintly Gallic? And the transformation of his son was another, but then -- teenagers can sometimes be unpredictable, can't they? And it had only one broad sterotype, Mr. Santini (Gerard Depardieu). I left the theater amazed at how well the various facets of the plot fit so well together that it reminded me then of a Chinese wood block puzzle; now, a week later, that still seems most fitting.

This is _not_ a movie about being gay; that's only the gas that fuels the car that takes the people on that trip. It _is_ an observant, droll film about office politics and the way people's views of others can be distorted by labels. I'm sure -- within a few years -- this will be considered a classic and deservedly so.