
Forsixtyyears,MariaTeresaandherhighschoolfriendshavebeenmeetingformonthlyteainSantiago.Asamaidquietlykeepscupsandplatesfilled,thegenteelwomenpray,thentalkabouttheirailments,theirhusbands,andtherapidlychangingworldaroundthem.DirectorMaiteAlberdikeepsatightfocusonthefoodandthefriends'faces,astheylistentoeachother'sstories,gentlytease,andreminisce.Graduallytheirpersonalitiesemerge,andoverfouryearsoffilming,wecometoknowthemindividually,understandingtheirdifferencesandsensesofhumour.Astheirnumberdwindles,theirfriendshipgrouptakesonevenmoresignificance.Adeceptivelysimpleconstruct,TeaTimeinfactworksonseverallevels,notleastasajourneyintothelittleseenworldofuppermiddleclassChile,and,mostmemorably,asamovinglovelettertofemalefriendship.

