The Closet

The Closet

Year: 2001

Runtime: 84 min

Language: Korean

Director: Francis Veber

Comedy

Following the death of his wife, a man moves with his young daughter to a new house hoping for a fresh start. However, a strange presence in the closet begins to disturb their attempts at rebuilding a normal life. As unsettling events escalate, the father embarks on a frantic search to uncover the source of the disturbance, revealing hidden secrets and testing his ability to protect his child.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Closet (2001)

Trace every key event in The Closet (2001) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Pignon's quiet life upended

François Pignon is a mild-mannered, divorced man who works as an accountant at a rubber factory. On the day of the factory photoshoot he is kept off-camera and learns he is about to be downsized. Faced with this firing, he contemplates suicide as an option to escape his mundane life.

Factory photoshoot day Rubber factory
2

Belone proposes a radical plan

Belone, Pignon's eccentric former industrial psychologist neighbor, suggests a drastic plan to save him. He advises Pignon to insert his image into provocative gay snapshots and mail them anonymously to the CEO Kopel. The underlying idea is that the condom factory's support for the gay community will force Kopel to keep Pignon employed to avoid charges of anti-LGBT discrimination.

Shortly after downsizing news Belone's apartment
3

Pignon resists changing his nature

Pignon refuses to change his mild, self-effacing demeanor, even as the ruse begins to work. Yet coworkers and supervisors start seeing him as exotic rather than dull, and his life improves in unexpected ways. He gains confidence and a new social footing at work.

Weeks after plan Factory
4

Santini confronts discrimination risk

Santini, a homophobic coworker, realizes his own job might be at risk for discrimination and is warned about it. He starts making friendlier overtures toward Pignon, trying to ride the wave of his new image. The tension between them hints at a dangerous mix of insecurity and desire.

After Pignon's rising profile Factory
5

Misinterpretation leads to attack

Two workers notice Pignon waiting near his son's school and jump to a harmful conclusion about his interests. After discussing with Ariana, they assault him in the parking lot of his house, breaking his collarbone. The attack marks a brutal turn in the escalation around Pignon's ruse.

Daytime Parking lot near Pignon's home
6

The gay pride parade moment

The company enters a float in a local gay pride parade and obligates Pignon to ride it. His estranged son sees the televised broadcast and is surprised by his father's hidden vitality, expressing a wish to spend more time with him. The scene marks a turning point in their relationship.

Parade day / TV broadcast Local gay pride parade
7

Dinner confrontation with Christine

Christine, Pignon's ex-wife, invites him to dinner to demand explanations. Pignon, now more self-assured, tells her what he thinks and asserts his independence. The exchange crystallizes the change in their dynamic.

Evening after parade Christine's home
8

Santini's obsession deepens

Santini's supposed friendship with Pignon deepens into an obsessive fixation. His wife suspects an affair after finding a pink cashmere sweater receipt and leaves him when he buys chocolates for Pignon. The mounting obsession drives him toward a breakdown.

After parade escalation Santini's home
9

Santini offers to move in; Pignon refuses

Santini invites Pignon to move in with him, hoping to deepen the bond. Pignon declines, triggering Santini's emotional breakdown. A fight ensues, and Santini is fired and eventually institutionalized to recover.

Shortly after invitation Santini's home / workplace
10

Ruse is exposed during tour

Kopel catches Pignon mid-act on the factory conveyor with Mlle Bertrand during a tour for Japanese guests, revealing the ruse. Despite the exposure, Pignon has grown more assertive and manages to keep his job. The incident reshapes how others see him and cements his new position.

During Japanese guests tour Factory floor / conveyor
11

New-found confidence and reconciliations

With his confidence restored, Pignon keeps his job and repairs relationships with his son and with Belone. He also helps Santini restore his own employment, reinforcing the support network around him.

Post-discovery Factory and home
12

Romance with Mlle Bertrand

Pignon's life stabilizes as his romance with Mlle Bertrand blossoms. He finds happiness beyond work and family, and his personal life gains a new center. The relationship marks the culmination of his transformation.

End of story Mlle Bertrand's residence
13

Final photo and new ending

The finale mirrors the opening scene, but Pignon re-enters the photo and pushes his former offenders out of the frame. In the process, he accidentally breaks one man's collarbone, closing the arc with a comic, cathartic reversal.

Finale scene Factory photo backdrop

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:57

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Closet

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