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The Closet

Play trailer Poster for The Closet R Released Jun 29, 2001 1h 24m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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85% Tomatometer 82 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
When Francois Pignon (Daniel Auteuil), an accountant for a rubber factory, is about to be fired, he spreads a rumor that he's gay so that the company will be afraid to fire him, lest they come under fire for sexual discrimination. The ruse quickly becomes a challenge, starting when a burly homophobe (Gérard Depardieu) befriends Pignon to also keep his own job for the opposite reason.
The Closet

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Critics Consensus

A pleasant comedy with a great cast.

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Critics Reviews

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Empire Magazine Rated: 3/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com While there are laughs to be had, on a whole Veber's new film is an unfunny and offensive disaster, wasting a truckload of rich comedic talent in the process. Rated: 1.5/4 Jun 19, 2003 Full Review Kimberley Jones Austin Chronicle Rated: 2/5 Mar 10, 2003 Full Review Dan DiNicola The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY) If some situations strain credulity, it's still a rare comedy that will make us laugh and get us to think. Rated: A- Apr 30, 2024 Full Review Howard Feinstein The Advocate This witty film courageously takes on the corporate world in all its greed and prejudice. And wins. May 24, 2022 Full Review Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com If one didn't know any better, one would think that French farceur Francis Veber's latest comedy as a just-unearthed relic from the '80s, given how it treats homosexuality as some sort of cutesy novelty. Rated: 1.5/4 Feb 10, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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no t fantastic comedy, one of the best comedies in many years Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/14/24 Full Review Audience Member Bien drôle, ce petit film. Cocasse, sympathique, bien joué! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review camille l Le Placard est souvent drôle, un mélange entre caricature du monde du rugby (on notera la présence de Vincent Moscato), dialogues réjouissants souvent déclamés par un excellent Gérard Depardieu et une intrigue simple et concise. Mais Le Placard se complaît aussi un peu trop souvent dans une histoire dramatique absolument inintéressante au possible entre Daniel Auteuil et Alexandra Vandernoot qui y joue son ex-femme. A chaque fois qu'elle ou Stanislas Forlani (qui y joue son fils) est à l'écran, le film est à la limite du supportable. Heureusement, ce n'est qu'une petite fraction du film, surtout dans la deuxième partie, ce qui fait que ce Placard n'est finalement pas un mauvais divertissement du tout. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member It did get me laughing at some parts but after I finished watching it, I don't find any true meaning to this movie. I guess this is just a lighthearted movie for those with some time to kill. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Smart & hilarious, why can't American gay flicks be as good? Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/12/18 Full Review Audience Member To prevent losing his job, Francois decided to pretend to be gay with the help from his industrial psychologist neighbour. Life goes from bad to good as he does so, but with hilarious result. Le Placard is a smart comedy to satirize the affirmative action policy. I especially love the set design, it was simply exquisite. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Closet

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Cast & Crew

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Francis Veber

Director

Daniel Auteuil

Francois Pignon

Gérard Depardieu

Félix Santini

Thierry Lhermitte

Guillaume

Michèle Laroque

Mlle Bertrand

Michel Aumont

Belone

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The Closet

Director Francis Veber on the set of THE CLOSET. Daniel Auteuil and Gérard Depardieu in Francis Veber's THE CLOSET. Michel Aumont with Daniel Auteuil in Francis Veber's THE CLOSET. Daniel Auteuil in a scene from Francis Veber's THE CLOSET. Daniel Auteuil and Michéle Laroque in Francis Veber's THE CLOSET. Thierry Lhermitte and Gérard Depardieu in Francis Veber's THE CLOSET. Gérard Depardieu and Daniel Auteuil in Francis Veber's THE CLOSET. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When Francois Pignon (Daniel Auteuil), an accountant for a rubber factory, is about to be fired, he spreads a rumor that he's gay so that the company will be afraid to fire him, lest they come under fire for sexual discrimination. The ruse quickly becomes a challenge, starting when a burly homophobe (Gérard Depardieu) befriends Pignon to also keep his own job for the opposite reason.
Director
Francis Veber
Producer
Alain Poiré
Screenwriter
Francis Veber, Francis Veber
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Gaumont, Miramax
Rating
R (Scene of Sexuality)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 29, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 14, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.7M
Runtime
1h 24m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo