Search
What's Hot
Day-by-Day Fall Schedule
Idol Winner Speaks!
Jim Parsons Comes Out
Game of Thrones Star's Sex Stare

The Closet

2000, Movie, NR, 86 mins

The Closet: Review

CLOSET, THE | LE PLACARD
starstarstarstar
A straight man reluctantly pretends to be gay in this sometimes surprisingly funny farce. Francois Pignon (Daniel Auteuil), an accountant at a condom factory, is a real nowhere man: Not a bad fellow really, but dull. Most of the time you scarcely notice him, and when you do, there's something vaguely annoying about his mild-mannered ways. Francois is still desperately in love with his ex-wife, Christine (Alexandra Vandernoot), who can't so much as bother herself to return his phone calls; their teenage son Franck (Stanislas Crevillién) has adopted her attitude and visits his doting father only under pressure. And now, on top of everything, Francois overhears a bullying co-worker, Felix Santini (Gérard Depardieu), discussing the fact that Francois is about to be fired. Francois is ready to throw himself off the balcony of his tidy little apartment when a new neighbor intervenes. Belone (Michel Aumont), an older man with a soothing, avuncular manner, persuades Francois to pour out his troubles, then makes a suggestion based on his own background in human resources management. Belone will send an anonymous envelope to Francois's employer, containing a doctored photo of Francois at a gay bar. Once word gets around that Francois is homosexual, the company won't fire him for fear of a discrimination suit. Francois agrees, though not without considerable trepidation — how should he go about acting gay? Don't, his new friend counsels — just act like yourself and let the rumor mill do its work. To Francois's considerable surprise, the plan not only works, but makes him more interesting to his co-workers. Francois's son even starts thinking his dad's cool after seeing him perched on the company's Gay Pride Day parade float, an oversized condom on his head. The only person who doesn't quite believe the charade is Francois's beautiful, clever co-worker, Mlle Bertrand (Michèle Laroque), who attempts to "out" Francois by seducing him. Meanwhile, conniving personnel director Guillaume (Thierry Lhermite) sees an opportunity to take the macho, boorish Felix down a peg or two: He convinces Felix that if he doesn't reform his homophobic attitudes, it's Felix's job that will be on the line. And Felix must start by being very, very nice to Francois. Though all this "is he or isn't he" nonsense could be horribly coarse and clichéd, it's amusing more often than it isn't, largely because the cast is so nonchalant and, well, French about everything. (In French, with English subtitles) leave a comment --Maitland McDonagh
Are You Watching?
The Closet
Loading ...
Advertisement

Our Partners

Advertisement

Related Websites

You might be also interested in the following websites:

Most Popular TV Shows

  1. American Idol
  2. NCIS
  3. Big Bang Theory
  4. Voice
  5. Person of Interest
more popular tv shows

Most Popular Celebrities

  1. Jessica Simpson
  2. Khloe Kardashian
  3. Kate Middleton
  4. Maria Menounos
  5. Kim Kardashian
more popular celebrities

Most Popular Movies

  1. Avengers
  2. Battleship
  3. The Dictator
  4. Dark Shadows
  5. What To Expect When You're Expecting
more popular movies

Top Videos

  1. Revenge
  2. The Big Bang Theory
  3. Modern Family
  4. Days of our Lives
  5. Young and the Restless
more top videos