40th Anniversary Screening Bread and Chocolate

In conjunction with “Nino!,” a worldwide celebration of the work of Italian actor Nino Manfredi (1921-2004), the Academy presents a new restoration of the film that solidified his reputation as an international star.

Franco Brusati’s acclaimed 1974 comedy-drama Bread and Chocolate stars Manfredi as a Sicilian immigrant in Switzerland who loses his work permit through a series of inopportune incidents. Homeless and unemployed, his dream of a better life in a new country seemingly shattered, he refuses to give up. Ripe with social, historical and philosophical overtones, Bread and Chocolate is as poignant as it is hilarious. Roger Ebert described it as “a sneaky comedy that winds up being serious about its subject.”

In addition to appearing in almost 100 theatrical films, Nino Manfredi was an accomplished theater actor, screenwriter and director whose directorial debut won Best First Work at the 1971 Cannes Film Festival. During his five-decade career, Manfredi also won four Italian Golden Globe Awards and ten David di Donatello Awards (Italy’s main national film award). From May 9 to 16, the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles will host screenings and activities as part of the “Nino!” celebration.

The screening will be introduced by Erminia Manfredi, Nino’s widow. The restoration of Bread and Chocolate was made possible by the generous contributions of Bologna Cinematheque, National Cinematheque and Lucky Red.

1974, 116 minutes. Directed by Franco Brusati; written by Brusati, Iaia Fiastri and Nino Manfredi. Starring Manfredi, Anna Karina and Johnny Dorelli. DCP. Italian with English subtitles.