Tea with Mussolini

Set in 1930s fascist Italy, Tea with Mussolini follows young Luca, who is sent into the care of British expatriate Mary Wallace after the death of his mother. Mary and her circle of cultured, often eccentric women—artist Arabella, the elegant widow Elsa, and the pragmatic archaeologist Georgie—surround the boy with refinement, wit, and a protective sense of family. Their ritualized lives of tea, art, and social codes provide shelter and charm, while Luca grows from a grieving child into a more worldly, compassionate young man.

Their comfortable exile is upended as Mussolini’s regime and the outbreak of war force the women to confront political danger and personal courage. The film balances lighthearted banter and sharp social observation with poignant moments of loyalty, loss, and resilience, celebrating the unlikely bonds that sustain people through fear and upheaval.