ALAN SAMUEL ake four top-flight actresses, thrust them into a tale Ts of political intrigue, and you may just come up with a tour de force. This is precisely what happens in Tea with Mussolini, a tale of triumph and tragedy presented by MGM studios, which opened nationwide on May 14. Italian-director, Franco Zeffirelli, puts forth a monumental tale of the sorry plight of four wayward women trying to get by in Florence during the impressionable days of the Second World War. It could be said that this film is of the same class as last year's foreign hit Life is Beautiful, but without some of the scope. In Tea With Mussolini the emphasis is on top acting and a sweeping story that blend perfectly with the subtle mayhem on view. Known as the “Scorpioni” for their biting wit, a group of noble English ladies seem to run Florence society to perfection. The leader of the pack is Lady Hester, the stuffy. wife of a former diplomat. Others in her entourage include a wacky art-loving dog owner and an equally kooky American ex-pat. When Elsa, an American enter- tainer with a penchant for spending money like it’s going out of style, returns to the Mediterranean it really impacts on the local social scene. Real trouble, however, comes with the arrival of Mussolini and his brown-shirted muscle-men. _ Another elderly lady making up the foreign contingent is Mary Wallace who works as a translator/secretary to a wealthy Italian businessman who has a little boy. It is this boy ,Luka, who forms a common bond between all June 1999 the Other Press page 18 the British and American women as they decide to take over the raising of the lad from his delinquent father. All this “parenting” is set against the menace of Mussolini who slowly manages to turn his people against all foreigners, first the British, then the Americans. All the ladies are singled out, driven from their luxurious homes and sent to dingy prisons. Life is made even more dangerous for Elsa, the American, as she is Jewish. Cher (Mask) shines as Elsa, the ugly duckling show-offy American who is harshly humiliated because for being Jewish. Maggie Smith (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie) is terrific as the dragon lady British noblewoman who can't stand Elsa (and vice-versa). Perhaps the most memorable performance of all these standouts belongs to Joan Plowright (Widow's Peak) as Mary, Luka’s true guiding angel. Rounding out the stellar ensemble cast is Oscar winner Judy Dench (Shakespeare in Love) as a ditsy art/dog lover and Lilly Tomlin (9 to 5) as another wacky American... Beautiful cinematography and some warm humour combine with superb performances on all levels to make _ Tea with Mussolini sensational entertainment that’s joyous and bittersweet. Attn: !! STUDENTS | Special offer! 06 cents | © Copies—Self-service © Colour Laser Copies 50% off! © Colour Laser Transparencies 40% off! © Cerlox Binding For Presentations 50% off! Typesetting, Resumes/Letters, Fax, Address Labels, Business Cards, Rubber Stamps, Laminating