Nothing Like a Dame

The film was exquisite. So rich in content, though there was no script. The dames were not disappointing and spoke candidly of their past experiences. At times, it touched on a bit of sadness due to the way things have led on, but in the end, it's about these marvellous women sharing their life with us.

Wonderful concept. We are so blessed and proud to have 4 acting Dames who have 70 year long illustrious careers, and what is more they know each other and are friends. Not a lot really happens, you see some old images and footage that you will not have seen before. It isn't very structured it is just a capturing of an informal conversation between them. However, their friendship shines through and it is a joy and makes you proud to watch. They do deliver some nuggets of life lessons that they have learned along the way but mostly it is very light and funny.

Four grand Dames of England, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright, and Eileen Atkins get together and reminisce at Plowright's country home. I would say the wonderful archival film snippets of some of their performances on stage and screen would be enough for the price of admission here. But we get a lot more than that as these superb actresses talk about their surprising self-doubts, anxieties before they perform, aging, marriages, reviewers, and swap inside stories of their interactions with fellow performers and directors.

I felt this documentary got off to a rather disjointed start but went more smoothly as it progressed. Some of the humor made me laugh out loud such as when Dench had to call the paramedics for a bee sting on her backside. Her description was hilarious of the very young EMT tech who asked her if she had a carer (in America would be a home aide) which made her furious and she told him to "f-off".

Overall, this film had its awkward moments and the technique of the talented director Roger Michell asking the four women from the wings to comment on a new topic didn't work very well, in my opinion. But just to sit in and eavesdrop on this get-together of four master artists was a real pleasure.

This wasn't a "movie" as such but it was an enjoyable outing. Slow moving, at times, but it was kind of like hanging with four very interesting seniors. I thoroughly enjoying getting to know them, hearing their take on many modern things while seeing bits of their previous works. They are truly treasures and I'm so thankful that the filmmakers captured them.

I was amazed to see our local Katoomba cinema showing a movie that wasn't an Action or rom com box office cash ringer so of course we trotted off to Tea With the Dames, how could we resist? Anyone who loves great acting on stage or film and intelligent conversation should enjoy this documentary and rare look at actors of this caliber. The sort of afternoon tea I'd include on my wish list of when I get to heaven if there is such a place, would include two more Dames Julie Andrews and Dame Elizabeth Taylor. Four great ladies of the stage and obviously great friends reminiscing about life, love and performances that span over 6 decades and thankfully have been preserved forever as shown in the many fascinating clips and interspersed with the humorous sometimes revealing conversation we are invited to be part of. Young performers should see it as it shows fame in film or theatre has to be earned , it's not all awards and acclaim and most importantly it's much more than just being pretty or handsome and the flavour of the month which can turn bitter unless the talent is real and the dedication to adapt and change with the times , whatever medium stage ,film or television is permanent.