In 1930s fascist Italy, adolescent Luca just lost his mother. His father, a callous businessman, sends him to be taken care of by British expatriate Mary Wallace. Mary and her cultured friends - including artist Arabella, young widow Elsa, and archaeologist Georgie - keep a watchful eye over the boy. But the women's cultivated lives take a dramatic turn when Allied forces declare war on Mussolini.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Maggie SmithLady Hester Random | Lady Hester Random |
 Judi DenchArabella | Arabella |
 Joan PlowrightMary Wallace | Mary Wallace |
 CherElsa Strauss-Almerson | Elsa Strauss-Almerson |
 Lily TomlinGeorgina "Georgie" Rockwell | Georgina "Georgie" Rockwell |
| BBaird WallaceLuca | Luca |
| CCharlie LucasLuca (Child) | Luca (Child) |
 Michael WilliamsBritish Consul | British Consul |
| PPaul ChequerWilfred Random, aka Miss Lucy | Wilfred Random, aka Miss Lucy |
 Massimo GhiniPaolo | Paolo |
| PPaolo SegantiVittorio Fanfanni | Vittorio Fanfanni |
| TTessa PritchardConnie Raynor | Connie Raynor |
 Claudio SpadaroBenito Mussolini | Benito Mussolini |
 Roberto FarnesiMaurizio | Maurizio |
 Chris LarkinMajor Gibson | Major Gibson |
 Giacomo GonnellaFirst Carabiniere | First Carabiniere |
| AAllan Caister PearceAmerican Dealer | American Dealer |
 Hermann WeiskopfGerman Officer | German Officer |
 Pino ColizziGrandi | Grandi |