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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
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A tremendous film about growing awareness of war and art,
By Kevin Brianton (Melbourne, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Tea With Mussolini (Widescreen/Full Screen) (DVD)
Director and writer Franco Zeffirelli - with the assistance of veteran writer John Mortimer - gives a coming of age film a cutting edge. Tea with Mussolini is a mixture of warm and chilly memories. It has impeccable production values and the footage of tuscany alone is worth the price of ticket, but there is much more going on. Zeffirelli's charcter is Luca - first played by Charlie Lucas in youth; and Baird Wallace when older. I liked the subtle reference to Romeo and Juliet that he was later to direct. He is abandoned by his useless father who pays for an education and wants to forget about him. He is raised in Florence by Mary (Joan Plowright), the middle-aged secretary of his father but is basically shared among a band of British and American women, who adore Italian art. A cast features Maggie Smith as the impossible British lady, an art enthusiast played by Judi Dench, a lesbian archaeologist played by Lily Tomlin, and an astonishing rich and flambouyant Elsa, played by Cher, in her best role to date. Set against the rise of fascism, the incredible inhumanity of man, is balanced by a small group of women look after each other. Tea with Mussolini is a fine film that seems to float over the dark chasms it covers. Totally recommended
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great actors. Lovely Italy. Slow and not always credible.,
By
This review is from: Tea With Mussolini (Widescreen/Full Screen) (DVD)
"Tea with Mussolini" portrays the beautiful Italian landscape and the superb acting of the incredible Maggie Smith, Judy Dench, Joan Plowright, Lilly Tomlin and the lovely Cher; however, in spite of these virtues the movie can be quite slow and even tedious at times and does not have the magic of other "Italian" films that come to mind such as "Enchanted April" and "A room with a view".This is a story of a few lives intertwined by circumstance and World War II. Luca, an illegitimate child, unwanted by his father, is raised by the loving and patient Mary Wallace who is helped by a group of English ladies. Luca's father has a notion of making him "an English Gentlemen", a notion that soon changes according to the new political winds to become a wish of making him a "German businessman".... We meet the "Scorpions", a group of British ladies living in pre world war II Florence, headed by Maggie Smith who plays the widow of the British Ambassador - as she never fails to remind everyone. Scorpions is a nickname invented by Elsa, a rich American performer (Cher) who both laughs at and likes the group. Elsa becomes the benefactor of Luca and opens a trust for him, a favor he will return in the years to come. I confess that the mixture of Italian charm with British ladies usually works for me and any film bringing us this excellent group of actors cannot be bad. However, "Tea with Mussolini" is not always credible and the characters are somewhat exaggerated. The war remains in the background, as something nor the ladies nor the viewers are able to fully grasp. The ladies would not leave Italy due to their love of the place and their naïve belief in Mussolini and an effort is made to show how their lives are affected. We are supposed to understand the dreadfulness of war from the cruel separation of one British lady from her dog, or from the fact that they are supposed to sleep in a dirty crowded place. On the other hand, an effort is made to show the viewers that the ladies "cannot be given orders". I do wish that would have been true at times of wars. Not very convincing. However, if not taken as a true picture of reality the movie can be quite enjoyable.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Engaging Movie Worth Your Time,
By Steven E Collett (Strongsville, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Tea With Mussolini (Widescreen/Full Screen) (DVD)
With the many talented actresses in this film, you might have expected to have heard more about it. While the editing is questionable, this is still a wonderfully acted, engaging little film. Although, it does drag a few times, the story is worth knowing and the performances are top notch.Particularly Cher, who lights up the screen as Elsa. Especially, near the film's end as Elsa boards a small boat to escape with the assistance of the charming character Luka. Simply breath taking! Grab your favorite beverage and check this film out!
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