Promotion canapé (1990) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Catherine is assigned to the sorting office because her colleague Carole sets a trap out of jealousy toward her. Carole fabricates a theft accusation, leading to Catherine being punished with the sorting office assignment instead of the more desirable counter position.

Foreshadowing: Carole's jealousy is hinted at early when she sets the trap on their first day.

• catherine
• sorting office
• carole
• trap
• punishment

Catherine realizes that her superiors demand sexual favors for advancement. She seduces her chief inspector Ivan, which results in her getting promoted out of the sorting office.

Foreshadowing: The trainer's attempted seduction during training establishes that sex is the currency for promotion at PTT.

• catherine
• ivan
• chief inspector
• promotion
• seduction

They are evicted from their apartment, though the exact reason isn't specified. During dinner at a restaurant, Catherine explains they are on the social services blacklist, which means they cannot access affordable housing through normal channels.

Foreshadowing: The 'dream loft' they were promised turns out to be a cramped, dirty room, establishing their precarious housing situation.

• eviction
• apartment
• social services
• blacklist
• catherine
• françoise

When Françoise visits the social services office, the official offers her an apartment in exchange for sex. She refuses this proposition, maintaining her integrity despite their desperate housing situation.

• françoise
• social services
• apartment
• sex
• refusal

After Françoise refuses the social services official, Catherine goes to the social services office and seduces the civil servant. This secures the lease for both women.

Foreshadowing: Catherine's pragmatic approach to solving problems through seduction has already been established with the chief inspector.

• catherine
• lease
• social services
• seduction
• apartment

After Françoise escapes from Bernard's house where he tried to press for sex, she returns home and discovers André sleeping with Catherine. The scene creates tension between the two friends, though Catherine later encourages Françoise to return to Bernard.

Foreshadowing: The three characters' intertwined relationships have been building throughout the film.

• françoise
• andré
• catherine
• betrayal
• sleeping together

Catherine advises Françoise to return to Bernard's house and pursue the arrangement. Following this advice, Françoise returns and their arrangement quickly leads to her promotion to the ministry.

Foreshadowing: Catherine's earlier success with seducing for promotion sets the precedent.

• françoise
• bernard
• ministry
• promotion
• return

Post Minister François Loubeau fears being overlooked by the press. Françoise suggests a publicity stunt: a trip to the DOM-TOM (French overseas territories) to attract journalistic attention. At the airport, there are no journalists, and another minister's trip gets the coverage, so Loubeau cancels and goes to Martinique with Françoise instead.

Foreshadowing: Loubeau's anxiety about public image is established early as a character trait.

• loubeau
• dom-tom
• martinique
• publicity
• journalists
• trip

After their car is stolen and they become stranded, Françoise learns the meeting they're chasing relates to Martinique's independence movement. She proposes Loubeau film a video portraying himself as kidnapped by independence activists to generate headlines. The postman agrees to help if promoted to Regional Director. The plan works, making Loubeau a celebrated figure and giving the independence movement media attention.

Foreshadowing: The failed DOM-TOM trip establishes that Loubeau desperately needs media attention.

• kidnapping
• martinique
• independence
• media
• video
• loubeau
• postman

Françoise's arrangement with Bernard at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications leads to her rapid promotion. After the staged kidnapping incident boosts Loubeau's popularity, she becomes Post Minister. Later, she rises even further to the Élysée Palace.

Foreshadowing: Bernard introduces Françoise to the political world, and her strategic rise is foreshadowed throughout.

• françoise
• post minister
• ministry
• elysée
• promotion
• bernard

At the end, when Françoise becomes Post Minister and visits her former workplace, Carole Poteau has been demoted to the sorting office, the same punishment she helped orchestrate against Catherine.

Foreshadowing: Carole's early trick against Catherine establishes her as an antagonist who will face consequences.

• carole
• sorting office
• fate
• demotion
• ending

During training, there is a man who longs to return to Martinique. At the end, Françoise visits this Inspector, the young man from Martinique, and tells him he can return as Assistant Director, a promotion granted as a result of her new position.

Foreshadowing: The character's desire to return to Martinique is mentioned early in the training.

• martinique
• inspector
• assistant director
• return
• promotion