Tolo Tolo (2020)
Checco Zalone's record-breaking Italian comedy-drama about a bankrupt dreamer who flees to Africa and ends up on a migrant boat back to Europe.
Tolo Tolo - Movie Information
- Original Title: Tolo Tolo
- Release Year: 2020
- Directed by: Checco Zalone
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family
- Runtime: 1h 34m
- Original Language: Italian
- Spoken Languages: Italian
- Release Date (Theatrical): January 1, 2020 (Italy - T), September 17, 2021 (Canada)
- Alternative Titles: Die große Reise (DE), Naïf Et Insensé (CA)
- Production Companies: Taodue Film, Medusa Film, Sky Cinema, Lions Production & Service
- Production Countries: Italy, Morocco
Tolo Tolo - Plot
Checco is a young Apulian entrepreneur dreamer who has opened a sushi restaurant in his Apulia. However, after one month, the restaurant went bankrupt and he chose to emigrate to Africa to escape from debt. Here he adapts to being a waiter in a resort in Kenya, but at the outbreak of a civil war he decides to embark on a stowaway trip on a boat for migrants to Europe and chooses to do it with his African friends. However, he would not like to return to Italy, but rather to go to Liechtenstein where banking secrecy is in force and there is a lower tax burden than in Italy.
Where to Watch Tolo Tolo
Looking for where to watch Tolo Tolo?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
Tolo Tolo - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Checco Zalone
Main Cast
- Checco Zalone
- Manda Touré
- Nassor Said Birya
- Souleymane Sylla
- Giovanni D'Addario
- Barbara Bouchet
- Alexis Michalik
- Jean Marie Godet
- Nunzio Cappiello
- Eduardo Rejón
Writers
- Checco Zalone
- Paolo Virzì
Producers
- Pietro Valsecchi
Tolo Tolo - FAQs
What is Tolo Tolo about?
Tolo Tolo follows Checco, a hapless Apulian entrepreneur whose sushi restaurant collapses under debt, pushing him to flee to Africa. After working as a waiter in Kenya, he ends up caught in a civil war and joins African migrants on a clandestine boat journey back to Europe — with his sights set on Liechtenstein, not Italy.
Is Tolo Tolo a comedy or a serious film?
It's both. Tolo Tolo blends broad Italian comedy with a surprisingly sincere look at the migrant crisis. Checco Zalone uses his trademark slapstick and satire to tackle heavy themes — debt, displacement, and European hypocrisy — making audiences laugh while quietly challenging their assumptions.
Where can you watch Tolo Tolo online?
You can find all current streaming, rental, and purchase options for Tolo Tolo on JustWatch, which tracks availability across platforms in your region. Options may vary depending on your country.
Who directed and wrote Tolo Tolo?
Tolo Tolo was directed by Checco Zalone, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside acclaimed Italian director Paolo Virzì. Zalone — Italy's biggest box-office star — also stars in the film, making it very much a personal creative project from start to finish.
Who are the main actors in Tolo Tolo?
Checco Zalone leads the cast as the bumbling protagonist, joined by Manda Touré, Nassor Said Birya, Souleymane Sylla, and Giovanni D'Addario. Veteran actress Barbara Bouchet also appears, alongside Alexis Michalik and Jean Marie Godet in supporting roles.
Was Tolo Tolo a box office success in Italy?
Absolutely. Tolo Tolo was a massive hit, earning over €52 million at the box office against a €20 million budget. It broke Italian opening-day records when it premiered on January 1, 2020, cementing Checco Zalone's status as the country's most commercially successful comedian.
What themes does Tolo Tolo explore?
Beneath its comic surface, Tolo Tolo engages with the European migrant crisis, Italian economic anxiety, and cultural identity. Zalone uses his self-deprecating everyman character to expose the absurdity of borders and tax havens, turning a road-trip comedy into a pointed social satire.
Where was Tolo Tolo filmed?
Principal photography took place across Italy and Morocco, with the African sequences lending the film a vivid, sun-drenched visual texture. Morocco stood in for several African locations, giving the production a broad geographical sweep that contrasts sharply with the film's Italian suburban opening.
More About Tolo Tolo
Explore further details about Tolo Tolo on these authoritative film databases.