If you’ve never had the pleasure of sitting among a group of older women as they share stories, laugh over secrets, and call each other’s bluff, you’ve missed out on one of the great joys of life. I was fortunate to have grown up with a grandmother who had many sisters, and some of my fondest memories are of sitting at their commiserating feet. A very similar dynamic is at play in Tea with the Dames, a no-frills documentary in which esteemed British actresses Eileen Atkins, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, and Maggie Smith allow director Roger Michell and his cameras to sit in on one of their regular get-togethers at Plowright’s country home. Prompted by his off-screen questions, they reminisce about their early careers (supported by archival photos and footage); share invaluable insights into the acting profession; and grouse about the effects of aging (Plowright has trouble with her vision; Dench is losing her hearing). It’s all immensely entertaining, revealing, and moving—especially the occasional silences, when they sit comfortably together and the shared years fill the open space. What’s also captured in the insinuating sighs and eyerolls is the particular camaraderie of women who’ve cleverly navigated a field dominated by diva-ish men. My grandmother passed away earlier this year. Only one of her sisters is still living. Tea with the Dames has much to offer, but the wonder of it for me was that watching it felt like being with them all together once again.
