{"product_id":"tea-with-mussolini","title":"Tea With Mussolini","description":"Amazon.com\n\nIn filming this semi-autobiographical account of life in Italy during the dawn of World War II, director Franco Zeffirelli imbues Tea with Mussolini with the mixed blessings of fond reminiscence. It's a warmly inviting film, as impeccable as any Merchant-Ivory production, but like a hazy memory it's uncertain in its narrative intentions. And yet with an exceptional cast to compensate, the film's as engaging as it is inconsequential.\nZeffirelli's alter ego is Luca (Charlie Lucas in youth; Baird Wallace as a teenager), who is raised in Florence by Mary (Joan Plowright), the middle-aged secretary of his absentee father. Luca lives among a loose band of British and American women, nicknamed \"Il Scorpioni\" for their stinging wit in the shadows of Mussolini's thuggish dictatorship. Along with Mary there's Hester (Maggie Smith), a crusty ambassador's widow; Arabella (Judi Dench), a lively bohemian; lesbian archaeologist Georgie (Lily Tomlin); and Elsa (Cher), a flamboyant American who quietly finances Luca's education.\nIl Scorpioni witness the rise of fascism and the dangers of resistance, weathering dictatorial custody and (in Elsa's case) falling prey to heartbreaking betrayal. But Tea with Mussolini carries little dramatic weight; you have to forgive its unfocused structure to appreciate its merits. Zeffirelli gently conveys the passage from pleasantry to wartime, and he's drawn uniformly fine performances from this seasoned cast. If the film is vaguely unsatisfying, it's only because it had the makings of greatness and settles instead for an ethereal quality of anecdotal enchantment. --Jeff Shannon\n\nProduct Description\n\nHere is a drama with comic accents about a group of British \u0026amp; American travelers going to Italy in 1935. Luca (Charlie Lucas) is a boy living in Florence whose family situation is precarious at best. Fortunately, he's a welcome guest with Mary (Joan Plowright), Lady Hester (Maggie Smith), Arabella (Judi Dench), Elsa (Cher) and Georgie (Lily Tonlin). They enjoy all Italy has to offer and their initial response to the rise of fascism is to arrange a meeting with Mussolini and make sure he means well. (1995) 116 minutes.\u003cbr\u003eASIN: 630560097X\u003cbr\u003eVSKU: DBV.630560097X.G\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Good\u003cbr\u003eBinding: DVD\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote:\u003c\/b\u003e Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/b\u003e: Individually inspected: Guaranteed to play perfectly or your money back. Case may show wear and may be in library packaging. Ships Fast!  \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Dream Books Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41421304037434,"sku":"DBV.630560097X.G","price":5.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/6011\/0138\/files\/630560097X-0.jpg?v=1779038423","url":"https:\/\/shop.dreambooksco.com\/products\/tea-with-mussolini","provider":"Dream Books Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}