Hot Potato (1979 film)

Hot Potato
Directed by	Steno
Produced by	Achille Manzotti
Written by	Steno Giorgio Arlorio Enrico Vanzina
Starring	Renato Pozzetto
Music by	Totò Savio
Cinematography	Giorgio Arlorio
Release dates	16 November 1979
Running time	100 minutes
Country	Italy
Language	Italian

Hot Potato (Italian: La patata bollentecode: it is deprecated ) 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.

Plot

Bernardo Mambelli alias "Gandhi" (Renato Pozzetto) is a PCI militant and pugilist working at a Milanese paint factory. One night, he sees a bunch of neo-Nazis 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, 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: Bernardo Mambelli
• Massimo Ranieri: Claudio
• Edwige Fenech: Maria
• Mario Scarpetta: Walter
• Clara Colosimo: Elvira, the doorwoman
• Luca Sportelli: husband of Elvira
• Sergio Ciulli: Maravigli
• Adriana Russo: best friend of Maria
• Umberto Raho: the doctor
• Ennio Antonelli: laborer

See also

• List of Italian films of 1979

External links

• La patata bollente at IMDb