The Closet (2001 film)

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For the 2007 Chinese film, see The Closet (2007 film)

The Closet is a French film originally titled Le Placard. It is a comedy directed by Francis Veber and was released in 2001.

1 Synopsis
2 Details
3 Cast
4 External link

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

François Pignon, a man of sober dress and discreet allure, is content to live quietly in an unremarkable life.

When he learns he is going to be fired from his job, he confides in Jean-Pierre Belone, his neighbour, who proposes propagating the rumor that he is homosexual. When he comes out, his boss decides to keep Pignon in order to be "politically correct." (Pignon works at a rubber factory, one of the primary products of which is condoms; the gay community's support, his boss observes, is essential.)

Although Pignon does not change his usual mild and self-effacing behavior, his life becomes unexpectedly and dramatically better. Female co-workers take a new interest in him; one attempts to seduce him. Félix Santini, a homophobic co-worker who used to harass him, is frightened by some friends who assert that he could be fired for discrimination, and begins to make friendly overtures.

The company enters a float in a local gay pride parade, and Pignon is coerced into riding on it; his divorced wife and estranged son see him when the event is televised. The son is thrilled to learn that his father (formerly seen as bland, boring, and a trial to be with) has a wilder side, and agrees cheerfully to spending more time with him. The wife, suspicious, invites Pignon to dinner. Although she accuses him of faking the whole thing, he has by this point gained enough self-confidence to tell her exactly what he thinks of her.

Meanwhile, Santini's charade of friendship develops into an obsessive attraction; his wife suspects him of having an affair when she finds a receipt for an expensive pink sweater, and leaves him when he buys Pignon chocolate. After this, Santini invites Pignon to move in with him; when Pignon turns him down, Santini snaps, and a fight ensues.

Eventually Pignon's ruse is found out; however, he has become so assertive by this point that he retains his position, relates to his son, patches up his relationship with Santini, cheers up Belone, stands up to Santini's manipulative acquaintances, and generally lives happily ever after.