Tea with Mussolini (1999)

The most beautiful bad movie you'll see
Zeffirelli's artistic eye is evident here; there are tableaux strewn about the movie that are wonderful gems, visual little treats of costume, design, and Italy. Unfortunately, you'll have to tolerate some very spotty acting and weird pacing and awkward plot development to see them. Fortunately, you'll also be rewarded with some very lovely acting by a cavalcade of British lionesses. Look up "withering" in Wikipedia, and you'll see Maggie Smith's picture. And Joan Plowright's puppy eyes are ageless...she is so darling in this film, she acts as salve to Ms. Smith's saltiness.

A beautiful place going through ugly times
"Tea With Mussolini" on the surface is a women's film. The lead characters are a group of elderly English women and two Americans (Cher and Lily Tomlin). These woman have chosen to live in Florence, Italy during the 1930--1946 time frame which begins with fascism and ends with the Scottish coming to take back the city.

What makes this film is foremost the cast, and the city itself which is a gem, and finally the careful brush of history upon the women's everyday lives. "Tea" is one of the best "Coming of Second Age" films I have seen in a long time.

A beautiful place going through ugly times
"Tea With Mussolini" on the surface is a women's film. The lead characters are a group of elderly English women and two Americans (Cher and Lily Tomlin). These woman have chosen to live in Florence, Italy during the 1930--1946 time frame which begins with fascism and ends with the Scottish coming to take back the city.

What makes this film is foremost the cast, and the city itself which is a gem, and finally the careful brush of history upon the women's everyday lives. "Tea" is one of the best "Coming of Second Age" films I have seen in a long time.