neumu [ cinematronic ]




	The Closet
	Francis Veber Daniel Auteuil, Gerard Depardieu, Thierry Lhermitte 2001 widescreen; in French; English subtitles		Daniel Auteuil ("The Widow of St. Pierre"), Gerard Depardieu ("Cyrano de Bergerac") and Thierry Lhermitte ("The Dinner Party"), three of the most popular actors in France, team up for a farcical poke at corporate culture and sexuality in politically-correct times. If it seems like a lot of big-name juice for a light (yet very funny) comedy, Depardieu plays it broad and Lhermitte plays it easy in support of Auteuil, who gives the picture its soul. The grand Auteuil is gentle and circumspect as milquetoast accountant François, a man on the verge of being laid off from his job with a condom company until a neighbor convinces him to start a rumor that he's gay. Actually, François is straight and longs for a reconciliation with his ex-wife and teenage son. But as soon as his boss and fellow workers believe that François is gay, they begin treating him with respect to avoid harassment lawsuits. Director Francis Veber ("Le Cage Aux Folles") excels at lampooning modern manners and strikes gold again.