Hello all! Lisa from Boondock Ramblings and I love to buddy watch movies together – even though I am in Michigan and she is in Pennsylvania! We don’t literally watch together in a watch party, although that might be fun one time! We wanted our fall list to feel fall cozy, move into some more chilling movies, than turn cozy again for November.

Yesterday was the perfect day for this movie. It was rainy, a little gloomy, and I needed tea and something cozy. It did not disappoint on that level!

This week’s feature: Tea with the Dames

In the UK, the title of Dame is the female equivalent of a Knighthood, and these four women were honored with this title by the Crown for their services to drama. The careers and lives these four women have had! Oh to be a fly on the wall… oh wait, that is sort of what this documentary is like! A conversation between these four amazing women that we get to be a part of in a way.

Tea with the Dames is a documentary, one that gathers these four Dames/friends together for conversation, tea, laughs, some swearing, and some serious moments as well. All four have had illustrious careers in acting, playing roles from Shakespeare to Harry Potter characters to sci-fi movies like the Riddick Chronicles to being in Bond movies. They have run the gamut, and when asked if they wish to continue acting forever, Maggie Smith replied with an honest, “If we are asked.” And then promptly followed that up with saying that Dame Judi Dench is always asked first though, to which Dame Joan Plowright laughed and added that her agent said if she ever wanted a cameo in America, maybe they could find one that Judi hadn’t gotten her paws on yet. It was hilarious, honestly, to hear them laugh and poke fun.

Of the four, I was really only unfamiliar with Joan Plowright. Maggie Smith I always love, and Judi Dench really is everywhere. Eileen Atkins I was a little less familiar with but I definitely recognize her and I found her to be delightful in this film. She made me laugh out loud a few times, once when she said that she and Judi didn’t need the 60s, they acted pretty badly anyways, and once when she was reminiscing about the protests against Vietnam, which doesn’t usually inspire giggles. However, Atkins said that she was there and was suddenly like, I would like to be home. So, she just ghosted and bought herself some crumpets on the way home, and if that is not the most British thing I have ever heard, I don’t know what is.

One thing that did surprise me was when they discussed being offered the honor of becoming a Dame. It didn’t sound like they were instantly like, “Yes! Of course!” Instead, they were unsure about it. I didn’t think it was something you really considered, just something you did, if you were offered that honorific. But apparently not. Maggie Smith and Judi Dench cracked me up when Maggie related a conversation she had with Judi about swearing. She said Judi called her up and said it didn’t matter, she could still swear after becoming a Dame. She could maybe even swear more! Joan Plowright also added that she was already a Lady when she became a Dame, and said “it is difficult to have two titles.” Well, I am sure that is true Dame Joan Plowright. I thought that was just so cute.

This movie really had just so many of these little intimate moments. They of course looked back on their careers, the start of their young lives, acting, marriages and babies, growing old, and it was a beautiful journey to take with them, but it was the little back and forth, the banter, the obvious respect, love and friendship they had for each other, the shared history that made this movie so special.

If you need a pick me up, a boost, or just want to learn more about these amazing women, definitely look this movie up. And don’t forget your tea!

Next week: Fisherman’s Friends. I loved this movie the first time I watched it and I am looking forward to revisiting it!

Please check out Lisa’s post over on her blog! I am sure it is absolutely amazing!