Bread and Chocolate (1974)
"Pane e cioccolata" (original title)

Italian immigrant tries to become a member of Swiss society but fails as a waiter and even as a chicken plucker. He then becomes involved with shady wealthy character and tries to hide his ... See full summary »

Director:

Franco Brusati

Writers:

Franco Brusati, Jaja Fiastri (dialogue),

Stars:

Nino Manfredi, Johnny Dorelli, Anna Karina

10 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nino Manfredi	...	Nino Garofalo
Johnny Dorelli	...	Italian Industrialist
Anna Karina	...	Elena
Paolo Turco	...	Gianni
Ugo D'Alessio	...	Old Man
Tano Cimarosa	...	Giacomo
Gianfranco Barra	...	The Turk
Giorgio Cerioni	...	Police Inspector
Francesco D'Adda	...	Rudiger
Geoffrey Copleston	...	Boegli
Federico Scrobogna	...	Grigory
Max Delys	...	Renzo
Umberto Raho	...	Maitre
Nelide Giammarco	...	The Blonde
Manfred Freyberger	...	Lo svizzero sportivo

Storyline

Italian immigrant tries to become a member of Swiss society but fails as a waiter and even as a chicken plucker. He then becomes involved with shady wealthy character and tries to hide his Italian identity. He refuses to give up no matter how awful his situation.

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Plot Keywords:

italian | waiter | italian immigrant | child murder | italian abroad | 

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Taglines:

You'll Laugh Till Your Heart Breaks

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian German English

Release Date:

18 January 1974 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Bread and Chocolate

Company Credits

Production Co:

Verona Produzione

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 112 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Edited into Bellissimo: Immagini del cinema italiano (1985)

User Reviews

Moving and brilliant bitter comedy!

This movie brilliantly and movingly, but always with a lot of irony, describes the plight of an Italian migrant laborer in Switzerland. Some scenes are among the best in the history of cinema.

A group of migrant laborers are doing some filthy work in a ramshackle barn. Through a small window they see some beautiful young Swiss adolescents riding on horse back. These youngsters look like gods compared to the poor ants in the barn!

In another scene the hero of the film has been trying very hard for some time to assimilate, to become even more Swiss then the Swiss themselves. But he can't suppress his deep feelings of identity for ever. One day he enters a pub and watches a soccer match between Italy and Switzerland. At a certain moment he can't control himself any more and starts shouting to encourage the Italian team. He makes such a nuisance of himself that the Swiss throw him out.

Utterly brilliant!