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Editorial Review:
In filming this semi-autobiographical account of life in Italy during the dawn of World War II, director Franco Zeffirelli imbues Tea with Mussolini with the mixed blessings of fond reminiscence. It's a warmly inviting film, as impeccable as any Merchant-Ivory production, but like a hazy memory it's uncertain in its narrative intentions. And yet with an exceptional cast to compensate, the film's as engaging as it is inconsequential. Zeffirelli's alter ego is Luca (Charlie Lucas in youth; Baird Wallace as a teenager), who is raised in Florence by Mary (Joan Plowright), the middle-aged secretary of his absentee father. Luca lives among a loose band of British and American women, nicknamed "Il Scorpioni" for their stinging wit in the shadows of Mussolini's thuggish dictatorship. Along with Mary there's Hester (Maggie Smith), a crusty ambassador's widow; Arabella (Judi Dench), a lively bohemian; lesbian archaeologist Georgie (Lily Tomlin); and Elsa (Cher), a flamboyant American who quietly finances Luca's education.
Il Scorpioni witness the rise of fascism and the dangers of resistance, weathering dictatorial custody and (in Elsa's case) falling prey to heartbreaking betrayal. But Tea with Mussolini carries little dramatic weight; you have to forgive its unfocused structure to appreciate its merits. Zeffirelli gently conveys the passage from pleasantry to wartime, and he's drawn uniformly fine performances from this seasoned cast. If the film is vaguely unsatisfying, it's only because it had the makings of greatness and settles instead for an ethereal quality of anecdotal enchantment. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Utterly delightful. Fine female acting.Am about to order it to watch again and again and to have others do so.
Florence and San Gimigniano....places I know and love might have helped but this film will definitely be part of my"Favourites".
As my late husband, the ambassador would have said: splendid entertainment
Semi-autobiographical tale from the early life of director Franco Zeffirelli looks at the illegitimate son of an Italian businessman. The boy's mother has died, and he is raised by an Englishwoman (Joan Plowright) in pre-WWII Fascist Italy. Living to each other in Florence, and presided over by an ambassador's widow (Maggie Smith), a group of Englishwomen live a sheltered existence which they believe is guaranteed personal protection in a tea reception given by Il Duce. However, as war breaks out, the... more info
Tanks a lot!!! This film is a mighty one, from the great/dark atmosphere of the times, the stunning locations and what a cast, Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright, Judi Dench, Lily Tomlin and Cher. Superb, or you would think? Then the illusion came crashing down for me and I was brought back to reality that I was just watching a film. German troops entering San Gimignano, some riding on a tank. The tank in question is an American Sherman tank, with German insignias painted on. Luckily this was far into the film. How can a... more info
Tea With Mussolini or Tea with 007 My wife insisted we watch this, I refused and made her watch Casino Royale, but I gave in next time and watched this and I really enjoyed it. I guess even more than the 007 film.
Set during the war in Florence with a group of stubborn older ladies who think Mussolini will protect them during the German occupation, but will he?
A good film to enjoy during a lazy Sunday afternoon, just don't tell my wife I preferred this to Casino Royale.
