Tea with Mussolini
- Alternative title
- Tea with Mussolini
- Synopsis
- Feature film comedy drama, based on Zeffirelli’s autobiography, concerning a group of elderly expatriate English women living in Florence in 1934. One of the group (Mary), who are known as the ‘Scorpioni’, finds herself looking after the illegitimate son (Luca) of her employer, after the boy’s mother dies. As the fascist regime tightens its hold, the diplomat’s widow (Lady Hester) contacts Mussolini who invites her to Rome for tea and reassurances. In one scene Mary and Luca enact the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet using a toy theatre. The scene is interrupted by the brownshirts outside. Later, when Luca is sent to Austria, the women send him away with a heartfelt rendition of Henry V’s Crispin Crispian speech.
- Language
- English
- Country
- Great Britain; Italy
- Medium
- Film
- Technical information
- Colour / Sound
- Year of release
- 1998
- Keywords
- Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); toy theatres
Credits
- Director
- Franco Zeffirelli
- Producer
- Clive Parsons; Giovannella Zannoni; Riccardo Tozzi
- Cinematographer
- David Watkin
- Music
- Alessio Vlad; Stefano Arnaldi
- Costume
- Alberto Spiazzi; Anna Anni; Jenny Beavan
- Art Direction
- Carlo Centolavigna; Gioia Fiorella Mariani
- Cast
Baird Wallace Charlie Lucas Cher Joan Plowright Judi Dench Lily Tomlin Maggie Smith
Production Company
- Name
Cattleya Films
- Name
Cineritmo
- Name
Medusa Film
Distributor (Sale)
Available from retail outlets
Record Stats
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