Tea With Mussolini **1/2
rated PG MGM/G2 Films starring Cher, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, Maggie Smith, Lily Tomlin, Baird Wallace, Charlie Lucas based on the autobiography of Franco Zeffirelli screenplay by John Mortimer and Franco Zeffirelli directed by Franco Zeffirelli
In the past year or two, there has been no shortage of World War II based films. Viewers have now seen the war from many unique perspectives, and can form their own account of what happened. This time around, acclaimed director Franco Zeffirelli, who is best known for his 1968 black-and-white version of "Romeo And Juliet", shares with us his true story of being raised in Italy during World War II.
In the film, Zeffirelli goes by the alias Luca (Charlie Lucas as a child, Baird Wallace as a teen). Luca's Italian father has remarried to a woman who for some reason despises the child, and Luca is sent off to live with his English caretaker, Mary (Joan Plowright). Mary is part of the Scorpioni, a group of mostly arrogant, wealthy, conceited English women who happen to be living in Florence for the time being. Hester (Maggie Smith), the leader of the clan, has recently had tea with Mussolini, the leader of Italy, and he has assured her that the women will be kept safe in case of any war.
When Elsa (Cher), an elegant, audacious American Jewish woman arrives into the city, the threat of war seems to come with her. But the women keep their poise and the oncoming war seems to do nothing to stop their rich lifestyle. Luca is then sent to Austria by his father so that he can learn the Nazi ways, and the Englishwomen are told that they are no longer welcome in Italy. The orders work to no avail.
"Tea With Mussolini" starts off nicely, but the pace soon slows and the film becomes less interesting as it succumbs to World War II cliches instead of telling Luca's own story. The livelier moments are dragged down by the dry patches.
The film does feature a first-rate cast, including Cher (in her first film role since 1996's "Faithful"), Academy Award Winner Judi Dench, and Lily Tomlin. All the actresses bring life to their characters, and despite a clunker of a script, "Tea With Mussolini" at least has its heart in the right place.
a review by Akiva Gottlieb, The Teenage Movie Critic akiva@excite.com http://www.angelfire.com/mo/film
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