‘Tea with the Dames’ sparkles

This very funny film documents a weekend of sparkling conversations between Dames Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright, Eileen Atkins and Judi Dench at Plowright’s countryside home. It is intimate, a little salty, and most entertaining.

Director Roger Mitchell (Notting Hill), with minimal suggestions to the ladies, turns on the camera and lets these friends chat about their careers, acting, families, and life. Augmented with archival photographs and footage, their stories combine into a thoroughly enjoyable narrative. If you already like these actresses, this film makes them all the more endearing. They don’t take their honors too seriously, not even being named Dames of the British Empire. In fact, they remain hilariously irreverent and still seem surprised they have accomplished so much as the artists they have become. If your theater sells tea, be sure to bring a cup.