Johnny Stecchino

Johnny Stecchino is a 1991 Italian comedy film directed by, co-written by and starring Roberto Benigni in dual roles. This film is one of Benigni's many collaborations with co-star and wife, Nicoletta Braschi. It was the highest-grossing film of all time in Italy with a gross of 39 billion liras.

This film follows the life of Dante, a quirky school bus driver (Benigni) for students with Down syndrome, who bears a striking resemblance to Johnny Stecchino, an Italian mafioso who is wanted by Sicilian mobsters for treason and murder. Dante meets Maria (Braschi), Johnny Stecchino's wife, who plans to trick the Sicilian mobsters into kill Dante in place of Johnny.

The U.S. version released in theaters and on VHS is about 20 minutes shorter than the full Italian version. It trims several conversations including the final scene with Lillo accidentally sniffing cocaine.

Plot

After unsuccessfully hitting on his co-worker and other women at a soiree, Dante meets Maria after she nearly runs him over with her car. Maria is taken aback by Dante's striking resemblance to her husband Johnny Stecchino, an Italian mobster wanted by the Sicilian Mafia for killing mobster Cozzamara's wife and despised by the locals of Palermo for treason.

During the day, Dante works in Cesena as a bus driver for students with Down syndrome, defrauds the government into receiving disability payments for a faked disability, and steals bananas from greengrocers. Dante's best friend is Lillo, a student with Down syndrome and diabetes, whom he has to constantly deter from eating sweets.