Hot Potato (1979 film)

Hot Potato (Italian: La patata bollente) is a 1979 Commedia all'italiana film directed by Steno. The film discusses a range of issues such as homophobia in the political left, Anni di piombo violence, working class culture, and the sustainability of Eurocommunism.^[1]

Hot Potato
Directed by	Steno
Written by	Steno Giorgio Arlorio Enrico Vanzina
Produced by	Achille Manzotti
Starring	Renato Pozzetto
Cinematography	Giorgio Arlorio
Edited by	Raimondo Crociani
Music by	Totò Savio
Release date	16 November 1979 (1979-11-16)
Running time	100 minutes
Country	Italy
Language	Italian

Plot

Bernardo Mambelli nicknamed "il Gandi" (Renato Pozzetto) is a PCI militant and pugilist working at a Milanese paint factory. One night, he sees a fascist gang beating a frail young man (Massimo Ranieri). He saves the man and brings him to his house to learn that he is Claudio, a homosexual. With nowhere to go and recovering from the assault, Claudio starts staying at Bernardo's house but a series of typical misunderstandings lead his comrades as well as his girlfriend Maria (Edwige Fenech) to believing that he has "turned gay". Bernardo is now seen as a potential lost cause and the ongoings soon reveal a "hot potato" situation for him.

Cast

• Renato Pozzetto as Bernardo Mambelli nicknamed "il Gandi"
• Massimo Ranieri as Claudio
• Edwige Fenech as Maria
• Mario Scarpetta as Walter
• Clara Colosimo as Elvira, the doorwoman
• Luca Sportelli as Elvira's husband
• Sergio Ciulli as Maravigli
• Adriana Russo as Maria's best friend
• Umberto Raho as the doctor
• Ennio Antonelli as laborer

Production

The film was initially conceived as a segment of a two-part film titled "Fa male mischiare" (lit. 'Mixing Hurts ') directed by Nanni Loy; the two segments were eventually developed into full-length films, the other of them becoming Loy's Café Express.^[2]

See also

• List of Italian films of 1979