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Francois Pignon (Daniel Auteuil) works
for a condom manufacturer. He is an accountant who has been
working at the factory for 20 years. A meek uninteresting
bore, his wife divorced him two years earlier, his son despises
him, and at work his colleagues smirk about how nerdy he
is.
He learns that he is about to be fired.
Back at home, he tells his story to a
neighbour called Belone (Michel Aumont). Belon listens and
has an idea that will allow Francois to keep his job. Francois
simply has to pretend to be gay. His theory is that the
condom company will be terrified of the ramifications if
it fires a gay man.
Belone fabricates photographs that show
Pignon being overtly friendly with a leather-clad man. He
mails them to workers at the factory. As anticipated, the
news spreads quickly, and Pignon's colleagues now assume
that his introverted personality is just an attempt to conceal
his real self.
Santini (Gerard Depardieu) is an HR manager
at the factory, who is also a rugby coach and a homophobic
bigot He now feels obliged to befriend Pignon. Guillaume
(Thierry Lhermitte) reinforces Santini's fears by telling
him that he could be fired for political incorrectness.
Meanwhile, Pignon's co-workers are intrigued
by the new Francois Pignon. For example, his female boss
found him tedious when he was straight, but is keen to seduce
him now.
As planned, the company fears a lawsuit,
and feels obliged to keep him. Better still he is now universal
acknowledged as an unusually interesting person.
Very funny. Light entertainment with most
of the humour coming from people's reactions - especially
the Gerard Depardieu character who has to make an effort
to be politically correct. An incisive look at bigotry and
political correctness, with some insights into French corporate
life.
Incidentally, the character name François
Pignon has been used in four other films by Francis Veber:
L'Emmerdeur (1973), Les Compères (1983),
Les Fugitifs (1986), and Le Dîner de cons
(1998). It always belongs to an amiable fool.
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Genre: comedy Drama
Year 2001
Runtime: 84 min
Director: Francis Veber
Country: France
Writing credits: Francis Veber, also dialogue
Produced by
Patrice Ledoux — producer
Alain Poiré — line producer
Original Music: Vladimir Cosma
Cinematography: Luciano Tovoli
Colour: Eastmancolor
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Cast
Daniel Auteuil — François
Pignon
Gérard Depardieu — Félix
Santini
Thierry Lhermitte — Guillaume
Michèle Laroque — Mlle Bertrand
Jean Rochefort — Kopel, the director
Alexandra Vandernoot — Christine
Stanislas Crevillén — Franck
Michel Aumont — Belone, the neighbour
Edgar Givry — Mathieu
Thierry Ashanti — Victor
Armelle Deutsch — Ariane
Michèle Garcia — Madame Santini
Laurent Gamelon — Alba
Vincent Moscato — Ponce
Irina Ninova — Martine
Marianne Groves — Suzanne
Philippe Vieux — Cop
Luq Hamet — Moreau
Philippe Brigaud — Lambert
Eric Vanzetta — Maitre D
Michel Caccia — Wine waiter
Jean-Paul Zucca — Watchman
Joël Demarty — Photographer
Dominique Thomas — Mover
Akihiko Nishida — Japanese visitor
1
Hiro Uchiyama — Japanese visitor
2
Yongsou Cho — Japanese visitor 3
Onochi Seietsu — Japanese visitor
4
Sylvaine Perrin — L'ouvrière
de l'usine
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