Le placard features some of the best talent France has to offer. It is a superb comedy with muted undertones of drama. I never felt the Le Placard stooped low anywhere to get laughs. For me each and everyone of the jokes and farcical situations also had dramatic elements. Sometimes loneliness, sometimes love and sometimes our own prejudice.On surface it is an harmless comedy, but I have rarely seen comedy and drama mixed in such a subtle manner. Acting is just amazing. I hardly expect any less from Daniel Auteuil, Gérard Depardieu and Jean Rochefort.The plot seemed a little predictable in start but it keeps throwing surprises and the tone of the film is just right. A tightrope walk between comedy and drama.P.S. - I hope you don't read too much into the drama part from my review. Movie is designed as a comedy but I liked the underlying dramatic elements. It is not a black comedy but a comedy.

I'm sick and tired of French 'sex comedies' which for their humor really on tired stereotypes that are 'just jokes' for white, middle-class, straight Frenchies. This film is just one more example. Not only does it use a false 'reverse racism' storyline--that a minority will otherwise be kept in a job he is not qualified for--they also make light of some pretty serious contemporary anti-gay sentiments and actions, such as violent attacks. I don't like all of the stereotypes here that I have seen in so many French movies and comedies--the working-class homophobic buffoons, the not-very pretty secretary (as contrasted with the sexy one) who helps move the film forward. Maybe the fact that this film honestly was not that funny, even if you disregard the 'jokes', doesn't help.

Poor François Pignon is boring. When a staff reduction becomes necessary, he will be let go. Pignon is played by Daniel Auteuil, who I really liked in The Valet. He is one of the top French actors, having won a BAFTA and two Césars out of 12 nominations.He is commiserating when his meets his neighbor Belone, played by Michel Aumont, who has three César nominations himself for supporting roles, and was also in The Valet. He has a solution to Pignon's problem.Belone does some digital magic and sends photos to Pignon's office to make everyone think he is gay. The head of the company, played by Jean Rochefort, who has two Césars himself is afraid to fire him now, especially since they make condoms and don't want to offend some of their customers. Gérard Depardieu, who has an Oscar nomination, two BAFTA nominations, and an incredible 14 César nominations, with two wins, is the office homophobic, who must befriend Pignon out of fear of being fired himself for political incorrectness.Four of France's finest actors in one film is a real pleasure and a guarantee that it will be interesting.It really doesn't get into gay jokes. It is more about how people change. Depardieu is hilarious showing how sensitive he can be as his coworkers prod him to be more accepting.The film gets funnier, as his female co-workers believe the photos are fake and try to prove it.The company decides to use him and they put him on a float in the Gay Pride parade wearing a condom hat.Pignon may not be gay, but he turned into an interesting man after everyone's expectations of him changed. he even connected with his son. It was so funny.

This film is about a man trying to hang on to his job by pretending to be homosexual. Another colleague has to please him in order to avoid being viewed as homophobic.I watched this film a few years ago and I was thoroughly entertained. I watched it again recently, and I was still entertained. It takes the meaning of a satire to another level. It successfully creates a great comedy out of political correctness. What I find the most funny is that Félix is persuaded to please François all the time. The pink shirt scene is hilarious! Apart from the hilarious satirical plot, it also points out something important. It reminds us that people lost their jobs solely on the basis of their sexual orientation even in rather recent times. This film is a great piece of work. It is funny, entertaining and it spreads a message too.