Tea with Mussolini

Film Synopsis

Deploring the lack of consideration that her employer brings to his son Luca, Mary adopts the unfortunate child in the hope that parenthood sprout will return. Mary is a member of a small community of foreign women, gathered around the widow of a British ambassador in Italy. Under the influence of these women in love with the Florentine beauty, Luca discovers Shakespeare, Botticelli, Michelangelo, good manners, the meaning of the existence, as well as the distinction of good and evil.

One day, however, the war bursts and the colony's members are exiled to San Gimignano, the città delle cento torri (city of a hundred towers) where Luca, helped by a rich American woman (Cher), supports them in their difficult moments.

In this film of 1999, with dazzling pictures of Florence, San Gimignano, and Rome, Franco Zeffirelli then 77 years old, showed us through this quasi-authentic account of his own history, that art and respect will inevitably survive all the crises, be they political or warlike.

Film Quotes

Firenze

• There are no illegitimate children in this world but only illegitimate parents!
• Botticelli, Michelangelo... it's the human form divined!
• To live as these artists, is to share a part in the Divine plan!
• They are always with me, even though they are not here. Love doesn't die.
• True love is not 'vario'. It lasts forever. It's the most important thing in life.
• Oh! I'm sorry. Am I holding up the war? Are we under arrest?

About architectural monuments seen in the film

• Around 1420, Filippo Brunelleschi designed the dome (duomo) of the cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore located on Piazza del Duomo.
• Located at the narrowest point of the Arno river, the ponte Vecchio (1345) is the only Florentin bridge preserved from the bombardments of 1944.

San Gimignano

• Ah! The green-eyed monster...
• It is customary when leaving a ladies room to say good night. Come on it's not difficult: Good night Ladies.
• People would do anything for someone they love.
• Aren't you have letting yourself go?
• Why are you helping me? You always hated me!
• I have despised you and you have loved me. Because we have been both very foolish women. We both trusted men who turned out to be bastards!
• If I haven't been there for you, then you wouldn't be here for me now!
• Blowing up old ladies! They will give you the iron cross for that!