Ever-bumbling Nino is an illegal Italian immigrant working in a Swiss hotel. Waiting on the wealthy, he feels as if he’s carved out his own place in paradise. When he loses his job after being arrested for urinating in public, Nino is desperate to stay in the country. He goes into hiding, ends up living in a chicken shack and eventually decides to dye his hair blonde and pass himself off as a German. However, Nino grows to have doubts about hiding his heritage and identity.
Director: Franco Brusati. AKA Bread and Chocolate
Stars: Nino Manfredi, Johnny Dorelli, Anna Karina, Paolo Turco, Ugo D’Alessio, Tano Cimarosa, Gianfranco Barra, Giorgio Cerioni, Francesco D’Adda, Geoffrey Copleston, Federico Scrobogna, Max Delys, Umberto Raho, Nelide Giammarco, Manfred Freyberger.
1974 Berlin International Film Festival – Winner Silver Bear.
1974 Berlin International Film Festival – Nominated for the Golden Bear.
1978 New York Film Critics Circle Awards – Winner Best Foreign Language Film.
RIP Anna Karina (September 22, 1940 – December 14, 2019).
Great film. Thanks for sharing it – a worthy tribute to Anna Karina!
Easily one of the best comedies to ever come from the shores of Italy. Nino Manfredi is a wonder as an Italian who is tired of all the stereotypes associated with being Italian & tries to fit in with other nationalities to escape his own less-than-ideal past. The ending is a delight. Thanks Jon for showing it.