Tee mit Mussolini

This film is directed and co-authored by Franco Zeffirelli, and I couldn't resist speculating on how much of it was actually true, since it is said to be based on Zeffirelli's autobiography. However, true in part, true completely, in the end it doesn't really matter. What matters is the amazing ensemble acting by Maggie Smith, Cher, Joan Plowwright, Judi Dench and Lily Tomlin (listing them in the order of significance to the story) and the stunning beauty of Florence where the film is set. The director and photographer plainly love the city, matching the love for it of the characters. Maggie Smith as the widow of a former British ambassador, the character that actually has tea with Mussolini, is the dominant figure in the film. However, Cher, playing a wealthy American -- vulgar in the eyes of he British ladies -- who turns out to be a complex, philanthropic Jew who must be smuggled out of the country in the end; Joan Plowwright as a kind lady who takes in the bastard son of an Italian businessman and teaches him to be an English gentleman; Judi Dench as an eccentric artist whose passion is to preserve a renaissance fresco from the Nazis during the war, and Lily Tomlin as a lesbian American archaeologist all deliver sterling performances. Cher's performance is the most amazing -- she holds her own in formidable company -- but one expects, of course, to be dazzled by Maggie Smith, Joan Plowwright, Judi Dench and even by Lily Tomlin. It's a sentimental, even melodramatic, tale, but see it for the ensemble acting. I can't think of another film that equals Tea with Mussolini in that respect.

Another Judi Dench film that in no way disappoints.

This film opens the mind even more to that important chapter in history and lets you look from various perspectives at events.

I found it a really fascinating film, absolutely beautiful cinematography.

Excellent story telling, narrative, really well paced and put across.

And wonderfully acted across the board, from main characters to all the supporting cast, I did not realise Cher was such a good actress.

Stories like this based on fact, are so wonderful.

And the movie captures Florence, so pleasingly, you will long to visit.

A welcome break from the mindless action flicks.

See comments by obo-3. I have to agree on many of those weaknesses, although I have a talent for suspending my disbelief in order to appreciate some finer qualities of a movie. This didn't receive a very high rating from me, however, I have stringent guidelines.

I do think it is worth seeing merely because it does a good job of showing us a different perspective. For our generation to look back into history and judge those who were naive as doing nothing to stop the atrocities... I do not make excuses for those who saw the horror with their own eyes and turned away, or worse, gave up their neighbors... But for example, in this movie, when the local military knocks the town around a bit, some of the fine British believed it to be an isolated incident and just didn't believe that Jews were really being rounded up and carted away like livestock elsewhere. They trusted the word of Mussolini and believed in the greater good of the governments and aristocracy of the time.

This is a touchy subject, but in our age of media coverage, even I doubted the stories I read in the paper of the atrocities in eastern Europe and thought it may be propaganda and overblown. I just couldn't believe it what was happening in our modern times and in Europe. This disbelief was coming from an educated person (in political science, no less) who knows a bit of history. I still could not believe that was happening, until I saw the pictures of the refugee camps and the burned out homes with my own eyes, and finally, until I shared a flat with a man whose parents and child were driven from their homes. I can fully believe that some Europeans at that time, would not see the big picture to stop Hitler and his cronies until it was all too late. It frightens me, even to see how easy it happened.

It is worth seeing this movie just to understand the perspective of how quietly and quickly the Nazi/fascists did what they did.

I had wanted to see this film for some time and when the opportunity finally materialised I was enthralled. It is probably the best performance I have seen by Maggie Smith, who often seems to be playing the same character actually. But this is her best since Miss Jean Brodie, and Joan Plowright, Judi Dench, Lily Tomlin and Cher are all equally impressive.

The settings are skilfully designed to draw the viewer in, and when you are setting your movie in Florence and its environs you can't go wrong anyway. The ongoing clash between two worlds i.e. Lady Hester Random (Maggie Smith) versus Elsa (Cher) reaches a satisfying resolution which it would be unfair to reveal.

There are splendid comic vignettes mixed into the overall drama. Judi Dench and her dog being thrown out of the cathedral, sharply contrasts with the chilling moment when the Jewish arts professor is taken away by the Gestapo. Understated but none the less effective, probably more so, because of it.

If you haven't seen this film, see it as soon as you can.

This film is one of the most touching and lovely films that I have seen in many years. Its gaggle of actresses are second to none and turn out excellant performance, Joan Plowright in particular brings an irresistable sweetness to the role. People who have commented on the film so far seem to have neglected to mention the soundtrack which is beautiful and inspiring with a wonderful piano piece. Criticism that the film is too old fashioned or that the characters are unappealing and pompous seems to miss the point, the very charm of Hester (Maggie Smith in particular)is how she overcomes her snobbery at the end and realises how much Elsa (Cher, who in any other film would doubtless be misplaced but in this case fits the role like a glove) has done for the Scorpioni. In short the film is a relic of a gentler age and is simultaniously uplifting, upsetting and relaxing. I implore everyone to hunt down the soundtrack on CD to the ends of the earth if necissary.