The Closet

One of Francis Veber's most widely seen comedies. François is an accountant at a condom factory. Nobody notices him, his wife has left, his son will not see him and he is about to be sacked. His neighbour gives him an idea: let a rumour spread that he is gay. The company will fear the scandal of firing a gay employee and he will keep his job. The plan works, but the film's real subject begins after that: François does not change, the way everyone looks at him does. The same man, the same behaviour, completely different treatment. The best section is what happens to Félix, the company's tough guy: pressured into harassing François, he ends up somewhere else entirely in his own head. Daniel Auteuil plays François, Gérard Depardieu plays Félix and Thierry Lhermitte the boss. Veber's shape is clear: the small man, a misunderstanding, and one idea pushed as far as it will go. A genre classic for anyone who likes French comedy. Seen now, several of the jokes run on gay stereotypes and sit badly.