Rating: 
Summary: A cross between...
Review: Director and writer Franco Zeffirelli - with the assistance of veteran writer John Mortimer - gives a coming of age film a cutting edge. Tea with Mussolini is a mixture of warm and chilly memories. It has impeccable production values and the footage of tuscany alone is worth the price of ticket, but there is much more going on. Zeffirelli's charcter is Luca - first played by Charlie Lucas in youth; and Baird Wallace when older. I liked the subtle reference to Romeo and Juliet that he was later to direct. He is abandoned by his useless father who pays for an education and wants to forget about him. He is raised in Florence by Mary (Joan Plowright), the middle-aged secretary of his father but is basically shared among a band of British and American women, who adore Italian art. A cast features Maggie Smith as the impossible British lady, an art enthusiast played by Judi Dench, a lesbian archaeologist played by Lily Tomlin, and an astonishing rich and flambouyant Elsa, played by Cher, in her best role to date. Set against the rise of fascism, the incredible inhumanity of man, is balanced by a small group of women look after each other. Tea with Mussolini is a fine film that seems to float over the dark chasms it covers. Totally recommended
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