Franco Zeffirelli talks to Tim Nasson
NEW YORK — Long before many actors playing its roles today were born, famed, openly gay director Franco Zeffirelli was reveling in adoration and winning awards for his big screen production of “Romeo and Juliet.”
That was 1968. Thirty years later, at the age of 77, (though he admits to being only 75), Zeffirelli is back and better than ever with Tea With Mussolini, a filmed account of his childhood.
Starring Academy Award winning actresses Dame Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love), Cher (Moonstruck), Dame Maggie Smith (A Room with A View), and Mrs. Lawrence Olivier, Lady Joan Plowright, Tea With Mussolini, puts Zeffirelli back in top form after a few disasters.
Granted, Zeffirelli, an Italian Senator since 1960, helmed the 1990 Hollywood production of Hamlet starring Mel Gibson; he is also responsible for three of the biggest bombs in cinematic history, the most memorable being Endless Love.
Zefferelli also directed Elizabeth Taylor and James Spader in a 1988 film, Young Toscanini, allegedly so dreadful that it was never released in the United States.
All can be forgiven however with Tea With Mussolini, his masterpiece that is destined to garner a slew of Academy Award nominations next year.
During the nearly 30 minutes we spoke with each other, Zeffirelli, who entered filmmaking as an assistant to some of the greatest European directors of his time — Michaelangelo Antonioni, Roberto Rossellini and Luchino Visconti — was in no mood to talk about his sexuality or private life, rather only his newest film.
“Mr. Zefferelli will not speak to you unless you agree to not bring up his sexual orientation or private life,” were the words of his publicist. Zeffirelli’s schizophrenic abilities as a director seem to mirror his personal affairs. He outed himself in The Advocate, (saying “I hate to call certain human beings ‘gay.’ The moment you say ‘gay,’ I already see a movement or a category or a ghetto. I don’t like that at all.”), signed four of the most revered actresses in the gay community to Tea With Mussolini and filmed the story of his life which entailed being raised by the English “Golden Girls.” Every gay boy’s dream.
“How did you sign the dream team of actresses?” I had to ask. (Lily Tomlin also stars in Tea With Mussolini as a butch lesbian. Big stretch?)
“It was simple. I was lucky. All of the women were heaven sent,” says Zeffirelli, arriving an hour late for his interview.
In NYC, from Rome, (where he makes home and is regarded as a great stage director of operas), for three days to promote “Tea…”, Zeffirelli seemed happy, and deservedly so, to once again be at the center of the film world’s attention.
“Joan Plowright was the pillar that brought everyone in this film together,” says Franco. “We have been friends for years. She knew about my whole childhood and had read my biography when it came out. She knew that the first three chapters were going to be what Tea With Mussolini was about and gave me an ultimatum. ‘I will break our friendship,’ she said, ‘if you don’t let me play Mary.'”
From as far back as 1951, Zefferelli had wanted to make “Tea … ” The idea was initially developed with close friend and journalist Donald Downs. But Tea With Mussolini would not take its current form until after Zeffirelli published his memoirs, Zefirelli — An Autobiography, in 1988.
“The setting for the film is, in essence, the unchanged Florence of the Middle Ages, which was nearing its final days,” says Zeffirelli. “It was a city which had resisted the worst excesses of modernization. It had preserved almost intact its character both as a medieval city and one which also embodied the splendors of the Renaissance.”
“Tea took only 11 weeks to film, yet 14 months to gel up,” Zeffirelli informs.
“Without Joan, though, it never would have happened.”
How did Judi Dench and Cher get involved?
“Judi had just finished a play in London and was free. She is very friendly with Joan and had heard that I was to do the movie. She called me and asked if there was a role for her. I obliged her, of course, because I would have been a fool not to. She is one of the world’s greatest living actors.”
“As for Maggie? I wrote the part for her.”
There was a lot of trouble, though, finding an American to play the role Cher ultimately won.
“Cher auditioned for the role and took it when it was offered to her not only because she liked me,” says Zeffirelli.
Earlier this year, I had the chance to speak with after she had completed work on “Tea … ” and was anticipating its release.
“I fell in love with the story and was determined to land a role in the film come hell or high water. Of course, I love Franco, and hold many of his films dear to my heart. But, I could not pass up the challenge of playing opposite three of the best actresses to ever have graced the silver screen.”
“She was definitely what I was looking for,” says Zeffirelli, commenting on his choice to use Cher.
He later describes the ‘Scorpioni’ — British expatriates living in Italy — as “ageless ladies who dressed as if nothing had changed since the end of the century. I remember vividly their arrival at certain hours, especially at tea time. They came in pairs or in small groups. In spring and summer they caused a sensation with their lace, cream and lilac colors, parasols and old-fashioned hats, at their meeting place.”
“I felt I had to tell this story,” Zeffirelli adds. “Not just about the part I played in it, but also about these extraordinary women who tried to resist the madness of war that was sweeping across Europe. They simply did not see why Italy and England could not still be friends just because a bunch of idiots had decided to go to war.”
While it is certain that Tea With Mussolini not only is going to do wonders for Zefirelli — also every actress involved (My bet is on Maggie Smith winning Best Supporting Actress at next year’s Academy Awards) — it is also certain to allow the film’s distributor a well-deserved hit.
While everyone involved in Tea With Mussolini rejoices over its imminent success, Zeffirelli is already at work on two new films. Not bad for a nearly 80-year-old, classy Italian who enjoys spending time in his “rose garden and with five beautiful dogs.”
