And zeffirellis penchant for turning life into opera makes tea with mussolini more enchanted fascist april than a memoir of any clarity or depth. Lady hester random maggie smith, widow of the british ambassador to italy, arabella judi dench, an artist and singer, georgie lily tomlin, the exuberant american archaeologist, and the brash and uninhibited elsa cher. Unfortunately, it is not readily available on the streaming platforms i use. Based in part on his autobiography, director franco zeffirellis tea with mussolini is a story about a group of british and american travelers on an indefinite visit to italy in 1935. The group has tea together and mussolini assures the ladies they will be left alone and they have his word. How accurate tea with mussolini is, i cannot say, but it is based on the autobiography of the film director franco zeffirelli, who directed and cowrote it, so we can be sure it is true to what he remembers, or wants to remember. We just watched tea with mussolini last night, and cannot recommend it highly enough. The film tells of a boy named luca, born out of wedlock to a clothing manufacturer in florence. Luca, who has just returned to italy after attending school in austria, helps elsa. Tea with mussolini mustsee exploration of love and. A comment on zeffirellis tea with mussolini world socialist web site. Based in part on his autobiography, director franco zeffirellis tea with mussolini is a drama with comic accents about a group of british and american travelers on an indefinite visit to italy in 1935, when, as one character puts it, mussolini was just a man who made the trains run on time. A story of civilized disobedience in world war ii italy starring cher, judi dench, and an incredible cast of leading ladies.
Greg mortenson was accused of lying in his nonfiction book three cups of tea. One evening we watched tea with mussolini together. His father, a callous businessman, sends him to be taken care of by british expatriate mary wallace joan plowright. Florence, italy on the brink of wwii it was a time of social unrest and, of course afternoon tea. Tea with mussolini film by zeffirelli 1999 britannica. From italy with love an unlikely duet between cher and the blackshirts more about tea with mussolini by jonathan romney friday 2 april 1999. Lady hester wrongly believes it is her association with mussolini claudio spadaro that has gotten them into their comfortable surroundings, but which in reality was arranged and paid for by elsa. Quoting lines from the diary of mussolini s daughter, with anecdotes and stories being told in his private home, will help you learn about the other side of mussolini. The scorpioni were part of a large community of brits in florence during the early decades of the twentieth century. Tea with mussolini trailer an illegitimate child is raised by an englishwoman in prewwii fascist italy, part of an english community in florence presided over by a diplomats widow. Watch tea with mussolini online stream full movie directv.
Derek hansens lunch with series is a compelling read. Populated with some of the best british actresses of our time, i knew it was a movie i had to see. Tea with mussolini by franco zeffirelli cher, judi dench, joan. From the diary of his wife rachele will learn of mussolini s last days in rome. The movie centers on a group of british and american women and a young boy living in florence. It is maybe not the great film so many had thought it would be, but with a true story, great casting and performances, and an interesting setting and time it is highly enjoyable. Luca is a boy living in florence whose family situation is precarious.
True, many european films tea with mussolini is a britishitalian coproduction use atmosphere and seemingly disconnected scenes to tell their stories, rather than traditional linear. Mary and her cultured friends including artist arabella judi dench, young widow elsa cher and archaeologist georgie lily tomlin keep a watchful eye over the boy. Indeed, recalling the story of the blind man in at first sight who was happy as a lark because he always found helpful people, the lesson of tea with mussolini, paradise road, and life is beautiful is the samekind people can create heaven just about anywhere. A diverse group of cultured ladies meet for tea each afternoon. Tea with mussolini by franco zeffirelli cher, judi dench. Other articles where tea with mussolini is discussed. An orphaned italian boy is raised amongst a circle of british and american women living in mussolini s italy before and during world war ii. Based in part on his autobiography, director franco zeffirellis tea with mussolini is a story about a group of british and american women expatriates in italy in 1935. Tea with mussolini is a film that has been on my radar for a long time. Thrust by circumstances into the bosom of a group of english expatriate women matrons of considerable poise and standing the young boy s view of the world was coloured by them. Four old guys meet every week at the same restaurant for lunch in sydney and each takes turns at telling a story. Tea with mussolini dvd snoisle libraries bibliocommons. Its story is based on incidents from zeffirellis early life, as described in his autobiography. In any case, tea with mussolini really doesnt do much of value for the rest of us.
But its definitely worth watching, especially if you are headed to ital. Originally a revolutionary socialist, he forged the paramilitary fascist movement in. Zeffirelli and his fellow screenwriter, the british novelist john mortimer, invented two american characters. How accurate tea with mussolini is, i cannot say, but it is based on. If a ghost writer was involved, they remained well hidden.
Tea with mussolini vhs 2000 vhs short for video home system is a standard for consumerlevel analog video recording on tape cassettes developed by victor company of japan. Funny thing is, we watched this movie a number of years ago, and i remembered it as rather hohum, and dh didnt remember it at all. Join oscar winner cher and an incredible cast of leading ladies as they host this radiant, beautiful film, thatis worth savoring. Tea with mussolini 1999 directed by franco zeffirelli. In particular maggie smith as lady hester, the crusty, sharp tongued wife of the former. With maggie smith, judi dench, joan plowright, cher. Tea with mussolini ac3, widescreen, repackaged on tcm shop. Films to get you in the mood for an italian vacation. Im not 100% sure how this book got on my toread list. The character maggie smith arranges a tea meeting with mussolini himself.
Tea with mussolini is a tongue in cheek reference to an incident that is pivotal to this chapter in zeffirellis life as a young boy in florence during the war. Semiautobiographical film directed by franco zeffirelli, telling the story of young italian boy lucas upbringing by a circle of english and american women, before and during world war ii. Tea with mussolini is a 1999 angloitalian semiautobiographical film directed by franco zeffirelli, scripted by john mortimer, telling the story of a young italian boys upbringing by a circle of british and american women before and during the second world war. Tea with mussolini 1999 is a angloitalian semiautobiographical film directed by franco zeffirelli, scripted by john mortimer, telling the story of a young italian. She brings along journalist constance raynor of the morning post newspaper and mussolini accepts the invitation because he loves to see stories about himself. Rumpole of the bailey is a series of books created and written by the british writer and barrister john mortimer based on the television series rumpole of the bailey mortimer adapted his television scripts into a series of short stories and novels starting in 1978. Franco zeffirelli felt as if lightning had struck me, shooting one particular. Luca is a boy living in florence whose family situation is precarious at best. The best i can figure is that i watched the movie tea with mussolini and thought, i wonder if this was based on a book. Tea with mussolini, directed by franco zeffirelli, is another merchant ivory period movie, this time set in florence during the rise of fascism. Tea with mussolini is directed by franco zeffirelli and based on his memoirs of growing up as a young kid in florence just before and during world war ii. This lush, frothy comingofage story provides its cast full of british and american grande dames with plenty of beautiful locations and. Tea with mussolini is a 1999 angloitalian semiautobiographical film directed by franco zeffirelli, scripted by john mortimer, telling the story of a young italian boys upbringing.
Tea with mussolini is a pretty movie, wellacted, and somewhat interesting from a historical perspective, but it doesnt transport us into the womens lives. Benito mussolini was an italian political leader who became the fascist dictator of italy from 1925 to 1945. A phenomenal cast of accomplished actresses help make famed director franco zeffirellis semiautobiographical tale an enchanting and warm film. In 1930s fascist italy, adolescent luca charlie lucas just lost his mother.
The acting is superb, and the story, based on actual events as remembered by the director, franco zeffirelli, is spellbinding. Tea with mussolini was directed by franco zeffirelli. It was put on the market in 1976 and uses magnetic tape 12 inch 1. It suffers from a mawkish storyline and reflects zeffirellis own confused social outlook. Little lucas mother is dead and his father cannot claim him, thanks to his vindictive, jealous wife. Tea with mussolini by ew staff april 19, 1999 at 04.
In its purest form, tea with mussolini portrays the story of an orphaned italian boy whose life intersects with those of female british expatriates living in italy during the years of wwii. Taken from a chapter in the autobiography of acclaimed filmmaker franco zeffirelli, tea with mussolini is written by british novelist and playwright john mortimer and zeffirelli, drawing on the. The grandes dames on parade in franco zeffirellis sudsy, picturesque world war ii drama, tea with mussolini, include cher, judi dench. It is a good story, if sometimes painful, as he tells andrew l. A series of anthologies and omnibus editions were also released.
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