The beautiful city of Florence is at the heart of this story, based on director Franco Zeffirelli's autobiography. Tea With Mussolini movie It's the 1930s, and young Luca (Charlie Lucas), the illegitimate son of an Italian businessman, is taken in by a group of proper English ladies known as "Il Scorpioni" (for their "sting"). He acquires a passion for the arts as he follows them on their excursions through various museums and cathedrals, and finds his first taste of love when he falls for an extravagant Jewish American named Elsa (Cher). When Mussolini's fascist regime joins the Nazis, the old ladies become prisoners of war, and Elsa finds herself in even greater danger. Luckily, the now older Luca is on hand to help. This lovingly photographed film allows Zeffirelli to give voice to his passion for the art and architecture of his native city. The ensemble of mature actresses have a field day, of course, and includes Judi Dench, Lily Tomlin, Joan Plowright, and Maggie Smith.
In this gently comic coming of age story, set in Florence over the course of the 1930s and 1940s, the illegitimate son of an Italian merchant is raised by a group of prim English ladies whose passion for Italian culture have made them permanent residents. With the rise of Mussolini and the outbreak of war, the ladies are interned as prisoners, and the boy risks his life to help them. It's a lushly photographed ensemble piece that instills in the viewer Zeffirelli's contagious passion for Italian art and affection for these brave ladies.
Theatrical release: April 14, 1999.
The film was shot in Florence, Rome, and San Gimigano, Italy.
The war footage near the end of this film was taken from A BRIDGE TOO FAR.
Tea With Mussolini Reviews:
"...Cher and Tomlin play the Americans with gusto..." -- L. J. Strom, Box Office
"...It works surprisingly well.... The film has truly novel subject matter.... Cher is terrific here doing what she does best..." -- Mike Clark, USA Today
"...Lively, fanciful.... An amusing yet touching high adventure and an unusual coming-of-age tale..." -- Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
"...[The film] serenely glides along..." -- Andy Medhurst, Sight and Sound
"...[Zeffirelli's] most personal film.... Cher gives a spirited performance..." -- Stephen Farber, Movieline's Hollywood Life
Unheralded film a must-see! Discovered this gem by accident. Superb acting, stellar cast, fascinating story based on true incidents. By a reviewer
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Tea with Mussolini A really good chick flick. I love it, my husband hated it. I think it captures the different levels of society of British ladies at that time. Cher played perfectly the brash, rich Jewish American with a good heart. By pianomom53
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Cher what can you say This is by far my favorite Cher Movie ever....As a Cher Impersonator I found this to be the greatest movie of hers to date....the way she carries herself in this movie is just great and the story is told in such a way that makes you really think that you are a part of the group during the nazi invasion of italy....but however this movie is one that is something that you have to take a liking too...as you may have read not many peole like this movie but just love it so it gets 5 stars from me. By Poodlehere
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Tea with Mussolini review A good movie for the history buffs!! I enjoyed watching this movie and learning about the women involved with World War II. By a reviewer
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