MARIA
- By SAMANTHA COLWELL
In new biopic Maria, Angelina Jolie takes the stage as Maria Callas.
Maria Callas was an American-Greek opera singer in the 1900s who is widely renowned as one of the world’s greatest operatic talents. She was styled and known as “La Divina” or “The Divine One”, with legendary composer Leonard Bernstein once referring to her as “the Bible of opera”. She began her musical education in Greece at the age of 13 after leaving her home of Manhattan, eventually establishing her early career in Italy. From there, Callas went on not only to become an iconic fixture in the operatic scene before her career ended prematurely, but to live a life full of scandal and tabloid fame, carrying on a notable affair with Aristotle Onassis (a tycoon of the Greek shipping industry) and a rivalry with Renata Tebaldi, another famed opera singer of the age.
Maria is the third in Larraín’s trilogy of movies revolving around important women of the 20th century; he previously directed 2016’s Jackie, of Onassis Kennedy fame, and 2021’s Spencer, the newly iconic Diana Spencer biopic starring Kristen Stewart.
Jolie, though she spent seven months training to sing opera in preparation for the role, lip syncs around 50 percent of the film’s music so that Callas’ original recordings can shine. This type of preparation is typical for Larrain’s leading women; Stewart immersed herself almost completely in Princess Diana’s life leading up to her role, and Natalie Portman watched every video she could find of Jackie Kennedy before her turn in the film.
Though Jolie’s costumes were based on Callas’ ornate and often furry wardrobe, the film proudly proclaims that no new fur was sourced for any garments. Instead, costu https://www.netflix.com/title/81939763mers drew from vintage collections including that of designer Massimo Cantini Perrini, and consulted with PETA regarding the ethical nature of their usage.
The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival in August of 2024, opening to generally positive critical reviews and even competing for the festival’s prestigious Golden Lion award. Jolie’s performance in particular was highlighted as standout, with the film having received an eight-minute standing ovation at its premiere, leaving the actress in tears. It then enjoyed a select theatrical release in cinemas across the United States before debuting on Netflix on December 11, 2024. Maria will be opening in theaters in Italy in January of 2025, and in Germany in February of 2025.
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