Steno
La Patata Bollente

LA RECENSIONE

Film from 1979 directed and written by Steno (Febbre da cavallo, 1976), excellently played by Renato Pozzetto, Edwige Fenech, and Massimo Ranieri.

It's the story of a worker, a man of principle, nicknamed by his colleagues (it’s certainly fitting) Gandhi. Gandhi (Pozzetto) is a strong supporter of the communist party and the workers' cause and, as a good unionist, he addresses the issues of his colleagues (fighting with the management to get a purifier installed in the paint factory where he works). He is engaged to a wonderful Edwige Fenech, who is a bit bored by his often biased and monothematic nature, but she is in love and with concrete plans. One evening, Gandhi, on his way home, comes to the defense of a young man (Massimo Ranieri) beaten by a gang of Nazi thugs, and after driving them away, he hosts the unfortunate man at his home. It won't take long to discover that Ranieri is homosexual.

Gandhi's acquaintance will make his reputation waver among friends, colleagues, and his fiancée. A restorative trip to the communist homeland par excellence, the old Soviet Union, will help him reconsider his sexual positions, about which he himself had begun to doubt. He will strongly reclaim his image and virility, continuing to steadfastly support the cause of his weaker and discriminated homosexual friend.

The film aims to shed light on the issue of homosexuality and emphasize the necessity of a stance by the communist party also concerning forgotten categories. Pozzetto is a superman and champion of the defense of the weak and the marginalized. He faces accusations from all sides of siding with discriminated and despised figures but will give a lesson in character, following through with his ideas and asserting his charisma against all skeptics. The acting is absolutely convincing, especially the male cast. The themes, for the year in question, are fresh and significant.

A significant chapter in Italian comedy.