Konterr Brilliant and touching

Matylda Swan It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Jakoba True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Walter Sloane Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

SnoopyStyle It's 1935 Florence, Italy. The dictator Mussolini is still a respectable leader for a group of elderly British ladies known as Scorpioni among the locals. Mary Wallace (Joan Plowright) cares for her callous Italian boss' illegitimate boy Lucas. His father barely cares and his mother is dead. Arabella (Judi Dench) runs a tour for British ladies. Aristocratic Lady Hester Random (Maggie Smith) barely tolerates archaeologist Georgie Rockwell (Lily Tomlin)'s rich flamboyant American friend Elsa Morganthal (Cher). The ladies' place in Italy becomes intolerable as the world plunges into war.Legendary Italian director Franco Zeffirelli brings a period piece with a bunch of older ladies to the big screen. It has a Merchant-Ivory quality to it. The ladies are big time but it does struggle to elevate the danger. Therefore the tension is held back. Suddenly, the last fifteen minute part turns into a war movie. It's a little odd and a little late. There are some flighty stories but they don't add up to a compelling narrative. The great actresses make this movie better than it deserves to be.

Emaisie39 After nearly 20 years as a top pop and television star, Cher suddenly skyrocketed to film stardom in the mid-80's, walked off with an Academy Award, ranked among the top ten box-office stars and just as suddenly disappeared from the big screen in 1991 after one last hit "Mermaids"(1990) cleaned up at cinemas. In 1999 she made a tremendous comeback with a multimillion selling CD "Believe"(Warner Bros, 1998) and most impressively returned to the big screen with a luminous performance in Franco Zefferelli's "Tea With Mussolini"(MGM,1999). Reviews were mixed but after I saw this in the movie theater, I felt the film was rather good. Based on an autobiography by Zefferelli recounting his early years trying to survive the Nazi-Mussolini atrocities of WWII. During this dangerous time Zefferelli was protected by a coterie of socialite dowagers played splendidly by Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, Lily Tomlin and of course Cher who was perfectly cast as a gorgeous Jewish chanteuse. The story has some holes and the film was probably edited down too much for its US release that cause some continuity issues but this is overall a charming, thoughtful period piece highlighted by Cher at her latter day peak. Shame this success did not resuscitate her dormant film career. She has made nothing of note since.

azgjudy I found this movie grand. The casting awesome. Cher balanced against the best of England was perfect. It was like watching a fascinating piece of music, like jazz. It all went together beautifully, everyone knew the chords and when to come in. Great harmony and melody also. A delightful story. Hurray to the Independents again. Maybe someday the US film industry will learn, most of us enjoy a good story and a good cast. The violence is in this picture, and it is a threat. It is how it effects these individuals, each in their own way and how they relate that makes the movie. If you have yet to see this film - take a break and enjoy.

Syrchek Tea with Mussolini is a story about several women from England that live in Florence during the prewar era of the 1930's. At this point the story focuses on a young boy named Luca who is abandoned by his only parent, a careless and inconsiderate father and is now an orphan. He is taken into custody by one of the English women, Ms. Wallace. Later the boy is sent to school in Austria which was provided by a close friend of his deceased mother, a wealthy American, Elsa Morganthal. During that time the general atmosphere is getting more and more intense and insecure. Specifically for these women for whom it is no longer safe to dwell in Italy, for they become so-called 'enemy aliens'. The story is quite diverse and it never becomes too messed up. Most of the characters are represented in a fair amount of time. Despite the unkind environment, the only grumbler here turns out to be one of the English women, Lady Hester Random. The one that had tea with Mussolini. It is funny how the film is titled, because the tea part is the least important event in the movie. What seems important here is how these women will get around their disagreements. The war really isn't that important because nobody actually loses anything that would have great value. No, they actually gain a few things, reunite and widen their friendships. What I like about the film is the smooth narrative style, which isn't the least gushy. Nothing special but it evolves the characters in a surprisingly even tempo.But the movie just isn't centered on something specific. You feel as if there isn't even a central character in the story. First I thought the main character would be Luca or Ms. Wallace. The movie isn't even that strong in describing the wartime atmosphere. The best part of it is the optimistic and kind look on life that these women seem to have. It's not one of the best dramas, nor comedies and certainly not war films, but it's worth a look....... 3/5 ......