Tea with Mussolini
Directed by:
Franco ZeffirelliCinematography:
David WatkinCast:
Cher, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, Maggie Smith, Lily Tomlin, Massimo Ghini, Chris Larkin, Paolo Seganti, David Agranov, Roberto Farnesi, Michael Williams (more)Plots(1)
Well-received drama based on the childhood memories of director Franco Zeffirelli. It is Florence, 1934. A diverse group of women meet each afternoon for tea. There is Lady Hester Ransom (Maggie Smith), widow of the British Ambassador to Italy; Arabella (Judi Dench), a singer and artist; Georgie (Lily Tomlin), an eccentric American archaeologist; Elsa (Cher), also an American, and brash and reckless with it; and finally Mary (Joan Plowright), who has virtually adopted a young Italian boy named Luca. As the political climate shifts towards fascism, the ladies must face some inevitable changes, and Luca must face his own responsibilities. (Universal Pictures UK)
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Reviews (1)
I haven't seen the film very often since its premiere in the movie theater, but it's clear to me now, after seeing it again, how much of a service it did to the general acceptance of wartime Italy. It's of little use, though. It's still always just the evil and one-sided Germany in the regular movies, but Italy lived with its Duce for an entire 11 years longer... The fates of the elderly English ladies and one American Jewish woman are chosen with grace and deliberation.
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Photo © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
