Tea with Mussolini
Encyclopedia
Tea with Mussolini is a 1999 British-Italian semi-autobiographical film directed by Franco Zeffirelli
, telling the story of young Italian boy Luca's upbringing by a circle of English and American women, before and during World War II
.
— meet for tea every afternoon. Young Luca (Charlie Lucas) is the illegitimate son of an Italian businessman (Massimo Ghini
) who shows little interest in his son's upbringing; the boy's mother, a dressmaker, has recently died. Mary Wallace (Joan Plowright
), who works as the man's secretary, steps in to care for him, turning to her Scorpioni friends – including eccentric would-be artist Arabella (Judi Dench
) – for support. Together, they teach Luca many lessons about life and especially the arts. Elsa Morganthal (Cher
), a brash rich young American widow whom Scorpioni matron Lady Hester Random (Maggie Smith
) barely tolerates, sets up a financial trust for Luca when she learns of the death of his mother, whom she was fond of and to whom Elsa still owed money for her dressmaking services.
One day, when the ladies are in a restaurant for afternoon tea, it is vandalized by Fascists
, reflecting the increasingly uncertain position of the expatriate community. Lady Hester, widow of Britain's former ambassador to Italy, retains an admiring faith in Benito Mussolini
(Claudio Spadaro), and takes it upon herself to visit him, receiving his insincere assurances of their safety, and proudly recounting her "tea with Mussolini". But the political situation continues to deteriorate, and the Scorpioni find their status and liberties diminishing. Luca's father decides that Italy's future is with Germany rather than the United Kingdom, and sends Luca to an Austrian boarding school
.
Five years later, Luca (now played by Baird Wallace) returns to Florence with the intention of using Elsa's trust fund to study art. He finds that most British nationals are fleeing the country anticipating Mussolini's declaration of war on Great Britain, and Mary has moved in with Lady Hester and the other English hold-outs. He arrives at the house just as they (and Hester's ineffectual grandson Wilfred (Paul Chequer
) disguised as a young woman for his safety) are being rounded up and put onto a transport truck, which he follows to the nearby city of San Gimignano
. Because the United States is not at war, Elsa and her American compatriot Georgie Rockwell (Lily Tomlin
), an openly lesbian archaeologist, remain free, and Elsa uses Luca to deliver forged orders and funds to have the ladies moved from their distressingly barracks-like quarters to an upper-class hotel. Believing that Mussolini himself issued the orders, Lady Hester is delighted, proudly brandishing the newspaper photo of her tea with Il Duce.
As the war progresses, oppression of Jews starts to grow, and Jewish Elsa – protected somewhat by her citizenship and wealth – provides some Italian Jews with fake passports, further enlisting Luca, who has becoming enamored with her, to deliver them. But Luca becomes jealous when she forms a romantic alliance with Vittorio (Paolo Seganti
), a shrewd Italian lawyer.
When the United States enters the war, Elsa and Georgie are interned with the English women. Elsa falls for Vittorio's scheme to embezzle her art collection and money, and which would ultimately deliver her to the German Gestapo
in a phony escape to Switzerland. Luca was aware of the deception, but didn't tell anyone, out of jealous spite for Elsa. Mary learns of it from Elsa's art dealer (Mino Bellei) and scolds Luca. His attitude changes, and he gives his trust funds to members of the Italian resistance movement
, which Wilfred has joined. But Elsa refuses to believe the betrayal, and is convinced only when Lady Hester, informed by Mary and Luca of what Elsa has secretly done for them, repents of her contempt for Elsa and offers her gratitude and help. Surprised by Lady Hester's change of heart, Elsa believes her and consents to an escape plan hatched by Mary, Luca, and Wilfred. Before she departs, Elsa tells Luca how she once helped his young mother choose to go through with her pregnancy, thus allowing him to be there for her.
Years later, as Scottish Allied troops advance toward San Gimignano
, Arabella frantically defends her beloved frescoes from demolition by German troops, and is heroically joined in the line of fire by Georgie and the English women, including Lady Hester. They are saved when the Germans receive orders to retreat, leaving the women and the towers untouched. The city rejoices as the Scots arrive, with Luca now serving as their commander's Italian interpreter. The major has orders to evacuate the Scorpioni, but Lady Hester refuses to cooperate, resolved that they will resume their former lives in Italy. Mary is delighted to see that Luca – now in British uniform – has become the "English gentleman" his father once wished him to become after all.
Closing texts explain the mostly-happy fates of the characters, concluding with the remark that Luca went on to become an artist and "helped in making this film" — i.e., as writer and director.
, earned only $2,104,439 in 1996.
Nominations
Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli KBE is an Italian director and producer of films and television. He is also a director and designer of operas and a former senator for the Italian center-right Forza Italia party....
, telling the story of young Italian boy Luca's upbringing by a circle of English and American women, before and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Plot
The film begins in Florence, Italy in 1935, where a group of cultured expatriate British women — called by the Italians the ScorpioniThe Scorpioni
The Scorpioni was small group of elderly English ladies who lived in Florence in 1930s and 1940s. They were given the name "Scorpioni" because they were known for their arch humour. One of them was an English governess called Mary O'Neill...
— meet for tea every afternoon. Young Luca (Charlie Lucas) is the illegitimate son of an Italian businessman (Massimo Ghini
Massimo Ghini
Massimo Ghini is an Italian actor. He has worked with Franco Zeffirelli, Giorgio Strehler, Giuseppe Patroni Griffi, and Gabriele Lavia, among others. He is married to actress Nancy Brilli, and is the father of four children....
) who shows little interest in his son's upbringing; the boy's mother, a dressmaker, has recently died. Mary Wallace (Joan Plowright
Joan Plowright
Joan Ann Plowright, Baroness Olivier, DBE , better known as Dame Joan Plowright, is an English actress, whose career has spanned over sixty years. Throughout her career she has won two Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award and has been nominated for an Academy Award, an Emmy, and two BAFTA Awards...
), who works as the man's secretary, steps in to care for him, turning to her Scorpioni friends – including eccentric would-be artist Arabella (Judi Dench
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
) – for support. Together, they teach Luca many lessons about life and especially the arts. Elsa Morganthal (Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
), a brash rich young American widow whom Scorpioni matron Lady Hester Random (Maggie Smith
Maggie Smith
Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, DBE , better known as Maggie Smith, is an English film, stage, and television actress who made her stage debut in 1952 and is still performing after 59 years...
) barely tolerates, sets up a financial trust for Luca when she learns of the death of his mother, whom she was fond of and to whom Elsa still owed money for her dressmaking services.
One day, when the ladies are in a restaurant for afternoon tea, it is vandalized by Fascists
Italian Fascism
Italian Fascism also known as Fascism with a capital "F" refers to the original fascist ideology in Italy. This ideology is associated with the National Fascist Party which under Benito Mussolini ruled the Kingdom of Italy from 1922 until 1943, the Republican Fascist Party which ruled the Italian...
, reflecting the increasingly uncertain position of the expatriate community. Lady Hester, widow of Britain's former ambassador to Italy, retains an admiring faith in Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
(Claudio Spadaro), and takes it upon herself to visit him, receiving his insincere assurances of their safety, and proudly recounting her "tea with Mussolini". But the political situation continues to deteriorate, and the Scorpioni find their status and liberties diminishing. Luca's father decides that Italy's future is with Germany rather than the United Kingdom, and sends Luca to an Austrian boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
.
Five years later, Luca (now played by Baird Wallace) returns to Florence with the intention of using Elsa's trust fund to study art. He finds that most British nationals are fleeing the country anticipating Mussolini's declaration of war on Great Britain, and Mary has moved in with Lady Hester and the other English hold-outs. He arrives at the house just as they (and Hester's ineffectual grandson Wilfred (Paul Chequer
Paul Chequer
Paul Chequer is an actor most famous for starring in the British drama As If as Jamie Collier on Channel 4 from 2001 to 2004 and the BBC Three drama Sinchronicity, as Nathan, in 2006....
) disguised as a young woman for his safety) are being rounded up and put onto a transport truck, which he follows to the nearby city of San Gimignano
San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. It is mainly famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers, which may be seen from several kilometres outside the town....
. Because the United States is not at war, Elsa and her American compatriot Georgie Rockwell (Lily Tomlin
Lily Tomlin
Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin is an American actress, comedienne, writer, and producer. Tomlin has been a major force in American comedy since the late 1960's when she began a career as a stand up comedian and became a featured performer on television's Laugh-in...
), an openly lesbian archaeologist, remain free, and Elsa uses Luca to deliver forged orders and funds to have the ladies moved from their distressingly barracks-like quarters to an upper-class hotel. Believing that Mussolini himself issued the orders, Lady Hester is delighted, proudly brandishing the newspaper photo of her tea with Il Duce.
As the war progresses, oppression of Jews starts to grow, and Jewish Elsa – protected somewhat by her citizenship and wealth – provides some Italian Jews with fake passports, further enlisting Luca, who has becoming enamored with her, to deliver them. But Luca becomes jealous when she forms a romantic alliance with Vittorio (Paolo Seganti
Paolo Seganti
Paolo Seganti , is an Italian actor and model, known for playing as Damian Grimaldi in the television soap opera As the World Turns....
), a shrewd Italian lawyer.
When the United States enters the war, Elsa and Georgie are interned with the English women. Elsa falls for Vittorio's scheme to embezzle her art collection and money, and which would ultimately deliver her to the German Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
in a phony escape to Switzerland. Luca was aware of the deception, but didn't tell anyone, out of jealous spite for Elsa. Mary learns of it from Elsa's art dealer (Mino Bellei) and scolds Luca. His attitude changes, and he gives his trust funds to members of the Italian resistance movement
Italian resistance movement
The Italian resistance is the umbrella term for the various partisan forces formed by pro-Allied Italians during World War II...
, which Wilfred has joined. But Elsa refuses to believe the betrayal, and is convinced only when Lady Hester, informed by Mary and Luca of what Elsa has secretly done for them, repents of her contempt for Elsa and offers her gratitude and help. Surprised by Lady Hester's change of heart, Elsa believes her and consents to an escape plan hatched by Mary, Luca, and Wilfred. Before she departs, Elsa tells Luca how she once helped his young mother choose to go through with her pregnancy, thus allowing him to be there for her.
Years later, as Scottish Allied troops advance toward San Gimignano
San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. It is mainly famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers, which may be seen from several kilometres outside the town....
, Arabella frantically defends her beloved frescoes from demolition by German troops, and is heroically joined in the line of fire by Georgie and the English women, including Lady Hester. They are saved when the Germans receive orders to retreat, leaving the women and the towers untouched. The city rejoices as the Scots arrive, with Luca now serving as their commander's Italian interpreter. The major has orders to evacuate the Scorpioni, but Lady Hester refuses to cooperate, resolved that they will resume their former lives in Italy. Mary is delighted to see that Luca – now in British uniform – has become the "English gentleman" his father once wished him to become after all.
Closing texts explain the mostly-happy fates of the characters, concluding with the remark that Luca went on to become an artist and "helped in making this film" — i.e., as writer and director.
Cast
- CherCherCher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
- Elsa Morganthal Strauss-Almerson - Maggie SmithMaggie SmithDame Margaret Natalie Smith, DBE , better known as Maggie Smith, is an English film, stage, and television actress who made her stage debut in 1952 and is still performing after 59 years...
- Lady Hester Random - Judi DenchJudi DenchDame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
- Arabella - Lily TomlinLily TomlinMary Jean "Lily" Tomlin is an American actress, comedienne, writer, and producer. Tomlin has been a major force in American comedy since the late 1960's when she began a career as a stand up comedian and became a featured performer on television's Laugh-in...
- Georgie Rockwell - Joan PlowrightJoan PlowrightJoan Ann Plowright, Baroness Olivier, DBE , better known as Dame Joan Plowright, is an English actress, whose career has spanned over sixty years. Throughout her career she has won two Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award and has been nominated for an Academy Award, an Emmy, and two BAFTA Awards...
- Mary Wallace - Baird Wallace - Teenage Luca
- Charlie Lucas - Young Luca
- Michael Williams - British Consul (husband of Judi DenchJudi DenchDame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
, his final movie role)
Production
Lady Hester Random is based upon a real resident of Florence whom Zeffirelli knew in his childhood. Zeffirelli mentions her and a couple of other ladies of the Scorpioni in his autobiography. He said: "I don't remember if she was called Hester, but I remember this terrible, fantastic woman. She was the dowager of the community. I remember the many outrageous things she did because she could afford to be arrogant and bossy."Soundtrack
- Goodbye To Elsa
- Ladies
- Orphanage
- Stepmother
- Small Carriage
- Going To School
- The Black Shirts In Office
- Tea Trolley
- Goodbye Luca
- Declaration Of War
- Luca Returns Home
- The Dog Appears
- Luca Grows
- Jewess
- Luca Riding A Bicycle
- The Scorpioni
- Card Game
- No John
- No Tea
- Autobus
- Ordinance
- Who Paid?
- Goodbye To Elsa
Reception
The film opened tenth at the U.S. box office with $1,633,183 for the weekend, eventually grossing a total of $14,401,563, considerably more than its budget. Cher's previous film in a starring role, FaithfulFaithful (film)
Faithful is a comedy film released in 1996 about a wife, her husband and a hit man. It was directed by Paul Mazursky and produced by Robert De Niro and written by Chazz Palminteri....
, earned only $2,104,439 in 1996.
Awards and nominations
Won- 2000 - BAFTA Awards - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role; Maggie Smith.
- 2000 - Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards - Best Period Hair Styling Feature; Vivian McAteer.
- 2000 - Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists - Best Costume Design (Migliori Costumi); Anna Anni, Alberto Spiazzi.
Nominations
- 1999 - Golden Trailer Awards - Best Drama.
- 2000 - BAFTA Awards - Best Costume Design; Jenny Beavan, Anna Anni, Alberto Spiazzi.