What Is Bianco, rosso e Verdone About?
The premise of Bianco, rosso e Verdone in 291 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In early‑1980s Italy, the nation holds a pivotal election that draws three disparate men back to their hometowns for a single, decisive act: casting a vote. The story unfolds on the sprawling motorways that link a bustling capital with remote provinces, offering a vivid snapshot of a country caught between the optimism of democratic ritual and the everyday absurdities of its landscape. The journey itself becomes a loose thread that ties together personal longing, familial obligation, and the quiet desperation of a society in flux.
Pasquale, a Southern immigrant who has spent years in Munich, returns with the naive thrill of a homecoming, eager to reconnect with the land of his birth despite the briefness of his stay. Furio, a meticulous clerk from Turin, embarks on the trip with his wife and children, turning the pilgrimage into an overly organized expedition that threatens to strain the bonds of his marriage. Mimmo, a simple‑hearted youngster, travels alongside his aging grandmother, shouldering the responsibility of caring for her while navigating the unfamiliar rhythms of the capital. Magda, Furio’s wife, bears the weight of his compulsions, her patience tested by the relentless pursuit of order amid an inherently chaotic road trip.
The film balances a light‑hearted, almost slapstick sensibility with a sharper, satirical undercurrent that critiques the gap between Italy’s romantic self‑image and the gritty realities of everyday life. Its tone swings from gentle comedy to moments of poignant reflection, inviting viewers to watch ordinary people confront the small catastrophes that accompany any journey. Through a series of loosely connected misadventures, the narrative sketches a portrait of a nation where personal and political stakes mingle, leaving the audience curious about how each traveler’s expectations will ultimately measure up against the country they briefly rediscover.
What Happens in Bianco, rosso e Verdone?
The complete story of Bianco, rosso e Verdone, from the first scene to the last, in 402 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 1 cast member page.
Spoilers ahead
It’s election day in early 1980s Italy. Three men set off to cast their votes in their respective hometowns: Furio, Carlo Verdone, a pedantic and overly talkative clerk living in Turin, travels with his family to Rome. Similarly, the simple-minded Mimmo Carlo Verdone is en route to his polling station with his diabetic grandmother, who depends on his care during the journey. Meanwhile, Pasquale, an Italian immigrant in Germany, nearly mute and married to a stern, Valkyrie-like German woman, sets off alone in his Alfasud for Matera in southern Italy.
Their journeys become a chaotic series of misadventures on the Italian motorways. Furio’s wife, Magda, is driven to the brink of a nervous breakdown by his obsessive perfectionism, which turns their every move into an over-planned ordeal. Mimmo, meanwhile, is continuously ridiculed and manipulated by his cunning grandmother. Pasquale, blissfully unaware of the dangers around him, is repeatedly targeted by thieves at every stop along the way.
The three groups briefly intersect at a motel where Magda, Mimmo, and their families spend the night. Furio, however, is absent, having ended up in the hospital after a car crash. At the motel, Magda finds herself courted by Raul, a dashing man who has been following her since the start of their journey. Mimmo, in his naivety, is drawn to a call-girl working at the motel. Misunderstanding her profession, he mistakes her pubic hair for “fur underwear” and fails to grasp her intentions entirely. Meanwhile, Pasquale’s car is stripped bare by thieves, leaving him without seats, a windshield, or wheel rims. Yet, undeterred, he soldiers on toward his destination.
Eventually, the three men reach their polling stations. Magda seizes the opportunity to escape with Raul while Furio is distracted, busy voting. Mimmo’s grandmother, determined to cast her vote for the Italian Communist Party, tragically dies in the voting booth. Her death prompts a heated debate among the poll workers about the validity of her vote, while Mimmo sobs over her passing.
As for Pasquale, his patience finally snaps after enduring relentless misfortunes since returning to his homeland. Breaking his silence, he delivers an impassioned, unintelligible rant recounting his trials, condemning the pointlessness of his vote, and railing against the state of the country. His tirade concludes with a clear, cutting message: he tells the election officials—and symbolically, all of Italy—to “screw themselves.” With that, he bids farewell and heads back to Germany.
“screw themselves.”
Bianco, rosso e Verdone Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Election day opens across Italy” to “End of the day: the journeys’ final stance”. 14 events name a place, across 13 locations.
- 1
Election day opens across Italy
Election day in early 1980s Italy begins as citizens prepare to cast their votes. Three men set off toward their polling places from different corners of the country. The day promises a chaotic ride as normal life collides with the mechanics of an important national vote.
When:Election Day Where:Italy
- 2
Furio heads for Rome
Furio, a pedantic and talkative clerk from Turin, travels with his family toward Rome to vote. His obsessive planning turns the trip into a meticulous, fussy choreography. The journey foreshadows the friction waiting at the polls.
When:Morning Where:Rome
- 3
Mimmo and his grandmother on the road
Mimmo, simple-minded and under his diabetic grandmother's care, makes his way to the polling station. Their trip is marked by patience and the grandmother's constant expectations. The journey underscores Mimmo's vulnerability and dependence.
When:Morning
- 4
Pasquale departs Germany for Matera
Pasquale, nearly mute and married to a stern German wife, sets off in his Alfasud toward Matera in southern Italy. He travels with a stubborn, determined mood, unaware of the chaos awaiting him. The long path back toward his homeland frames the story's outsider perspective.
When:Morning Where:Germany
- 5
Motorway misadventures begin
The journeys turn into a chaotic string of misadventures as the men negotiate a maze of Italian motorways. Delays, detours, and minor calamities punctuate their attempts to reach their destinations. The roads themselves become the main stage for the day.
When:Throughout the day Where:Italian motorways
- 6
Magda is driven to the brink
Furio’s wife Magda is driven toward a nervous breakdown by his obsessive perfectionism. Her mounting stress turns every move into a carefully choreographed performance rather than a simple trip. The tension foreshadows clashes at the polls.
When:Daytime Where:On the move between Turin and Rome
- 7
Mimmo faces ridicule from his grandmother
Mimmo endures constant ridicule and manipulation from his cunning grandmother. Her control undercuts his confidence and shapes his decisions on the journey. The dynamic underscores the vulnerability of the central figure.
When:Day Where:On the road
- 8
Pasquale's car is stripped
Thieves strip Pasquale’s car of seats, a windshield, and wheel rims at each stop along the way. He continues onward, undeterred, clinging to the faint hope of reaching Matera. The relentless misfortune tests his resolve.
When:During the trip Where:Stops along Italian motorways
- 9
Motel meeting and separate fates
The three groups briefly intersect at a motel where Magda, Mimmo, and their families spend the night. Furio is absent, having ended up in the hospital after a car crash. The lodging becomes a focal point for shifting affections and fraught emotions.
When:Night Where:Motel
- 10
Romances and misread signals at the motel
Magda is courted by Raul, a dashing man who has followed her from the start. Mimmo, in his naivety, is drawn to a call-girl; he misreads her intentions, confusing her with something harmless. The motel scene highlights the day’s comic and painful misunderstandings.
When:Night Where:Motel
Show the other 5 events of Bianco, rosso e Verdone Hide the last 5 events
- 11
The polling stations finally reach them
The three men reach their polling stations, each facing the day’s pressures in a different way. The mundane act of voting becomes a stage for personal and political faltering. Tension and expectation hang over the ballots as the day progresses.
When:Late day Where:Italy (various polling stations)
- 12
Magda escapes with Raul during voting
While Furio is distracted by the act of voting, Magda seizes the chance to escape with Raul. The turn of events reveals how personal desires clash with the day’s duties. The moment shifts the power balance among the characters.
When:During voting Where:Polling station vicinity
- 13
Mimmo’s grandmother dies in the booth
Mimmo’s grandmother dies in the voting booth, shocking the polling staff and the onlookers. A heated debate erupts among the workers about the validity of her vote in light of the tragedy. Mimmo sobs openly, overwhelmed by loss and confusion.
When:Vote day Where:Polling station
- 14
Pasquale’s tirade and decision to leave
Patience finally snaps for Pasquale as the misfortunes mount. He delivers an unintelligible rant condemning the pointlessness of his vote and telling the state to go to hell, before bidding farewell and heading back to Germany. The moment marks his departure from the Italian electoral drama.
When:Evening Where:In transit toward Germany
- 15
End of the day: the journeys’ final stance
By the end, the three men have reached the edges of their intended polls, each bearing the scars of the day’s chaos. The film leaves their fates on the ballots rather than in triumph or defeat. The day closes on a note of exhausted resolve and unresolved questions about civic duty.
When:Evening Where:Various locations (Italy and Germany)
Who Are the Main Characters in Bianco, rosso e Verdone?
6 characters, among them Pasquale Ametrano, Furio Zoccano and Mimmo: who each one is and the part they play in the story. 5 of them link to the actor’s page.
- PA
Pasquale Ametrano
Played by Carlo Verdone
A nearly mute Italian immigrant living in Germany who travels alone by Alfasud toward Matera. He endures a string of misfortunes on the road but remains outwardly patient until he erupts in an unrehearsed, contemptuous tirade against the state and the vote.
- 🌍 Immigrant experience
- 🛣️ Road-tripper
- FZ
Furio Zoccano
Played by Carlo Verdone
A pedantic, overly talkative clerk from Turin who heads to Rome with his family. His obsession with order and perfection turns every move into a controlled, anxiety-driven exercise, affecting both his wife and their journey.
- 🧭 Obsessive
- 🧳 Meticulous
- M
Mimmo
Played by Carlo Verdone
Simple-minded traveler who makes the journey with his diabetic grandmother. He is repeatedly manipulated by his shrewd relative, and his naiveté leads to misreads of situations, including a comic misunderstanding at the motel.
- 💫 Naive
- 🧠 Trust
- MG
Magda Ghiglioni
Played by Irina Sanpiter
A stern, independent woman married to a man whose perfectionism pushes her to the limits. She is drawn toward Raoul at the motel, complicating the trio’s intersecting stories.
- 💬 Charismatic
- 🎭 Complicated relationship
- R
Raoul
Played by Angelo Infanti
A dashing, cunning man following Magda along the journey. He becomes her companion at the motel, embodying the roguish allure that entangles the travelers.
- 🔥 Charmer
- 🕵️♂️ Cunning
- MG
Mimmo's Grandmother
A sharp, manipulative elder who exercises unexpected influence over the journey and the vote, ultimately meeting a tragic outcome at the polling booth.
- 👵 Manipulative
- 🧠 Sharp
Where and When Is Bianco, rosso e Verdone Set?
Bianco, rosso e Verdone is set in Turin, Rome, Matera and Italy (Early 1980s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Early 1980s
Set during Italy's early 1980s electoral moment, the film uses a national vote as a catalyst for personal misadventures. The period is marked by bureaucratic quirks and political tension, which amplify the characters' frustrations with daily life. The election-day setting underscores the tension between civic duty and everyday absurdity.
Where
Turin, Rome, Matera, Italy
The narrative unfolds across major Italian locales on election day, moving from Turin to Rome and onward to Matera. The journey linguistically and visually showcases Italy's geographic and urban diversity, from bustling motorways to provincial towns. The motel interlude acts as a focal point where divergent stories briefly converge, highlighting the country’s social contrasts.
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🛣️ Road trip
- 🏙️ City hopping
What Are the Themes of Bianco, rosso e Verdone?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Politics, Road Trip and Generations.
-
01
Politics
The film satirizes the Italian electoral process and public trust, showing how personal grievances and family dynamics intersect with national politics. The characters’ journeys reveal the gap between political ideals and everyday reality. The culmination, with Pasquale’s irreverent tirade, embodies a collective sense of disillusionment toward the system.
-
02
Road Trip
A series of misadventures on the Italian motorways turns a routine voting trip into a chaotic odyssey. Planning and impatience clash with unpredictability, exposing each character’s flaws. The road becomes a microcosm of broader social critique, where small crises escalate into meaningful commentary.
-
03
Generations
Intergenerational tension plays out through Mimmo and his grandmother, whose interplay exposes how authority, tradition, and care intersect with modern politics. The grandmother’s manipulative pragmatism contrasts with Mimmo’s naiveté, underscoring the persistence of older attitudes in a changing society. Her death at the polling booth adds a stark note on duty, fate, and compliance.
What Kind of Film Is Bianco, rosso e Verdone?
Light in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Light
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Mixed
An uproarious and satirical road trip comedy that captures the chaotic energy and frustrating absurdities of Italian life through three interwoven stories of characters trying to vote.
- uproarious
- satirical
- absurd
- frustrated
- nostalgic
- picaresque
- road trip
- political satire
- family dysfunction
- cultural clash
Content notes: death of a family member.
Quiz
How well do you remember Bianco, rosso e Verdone? Test yourself on the story.
