Tea with Mussolini () is a 1999 semi-autobiographical comedy-drama war film directed by Franco Zeffirelli, scripted by John Mortimer, telling the story of a young Italian boy's upbringing by a circle of British and American women before and during the Second World War.

Reception

thumb|Exterior of the former [[Gran Caffè Doney in Florence, where the Scorpioni would meet]]

The film opened tenth at the U.S. box office with $1,633,183 for the weekend, eventually grossing a worldwide total of $45,566,200, considerably more than its budget. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 64% from 39 reviews with the consensus: "Tea with Mussolini contains few surprises, but this amiably ambling drama is too likeable – and well-cast – to completely resist." Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "There are some scary, somber moments in this lushest of period pieces, yet Zeffirelli wisely sustains a gallant, predominantly blithe spirit throughout. Tea with Mussolini leaves you feeling that, if in reality not everything that Zeffirelli recalls had quite so much dash, whimsy and gallantry, it's the way it should have been."

Awards and nominations

;Won

  • 2000 – BAFTA Awards – Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role; Maggie Smith.

;Nominations

  • 1999 – Golden Trailer Awards – Best Drama.
  • 2000 – BAFTA Awards – Best Costume Design; Jenny Beavan, Anna Anni, Alberto Spiazzi.

See also

  • Gran Caffè Doney

Footnotes

  • Tea with Mussolini filming locations at Movieloci.com