Angelina Jolie is Maria Callas

I first met Pablo Larraín at the Spencer premiere some time ago. I remember walking into the auditorium not feeling overly excited about the film, as Kristen Stewart, I felt at the time, was a terrible choice to play the role of Princess Diana. However, I was proved so wrong. Despite the mumbling, Stewart came out of her mediocre acting, and acted! It was a truly stunning performance.

Here I was again, same venue, same director, but the premiere was a Netflix biopic for Maria, another film by Pablo Larraín. His chosen lady this time? Angelina Jolie, who by-the-way, has to sing, but not just anything, she has to sing opera, because, spoiler alert (in case the title didn’t give it away), she stars as renowned opera singer, Maria Callas. Jolie earned an Academy Award for her performance in Girl, Interrupted. She has displayed her incredible range in films like Changeling, The Good Shepherd, Maleficent, and Those Who Wish Me Dead. So I was a little optimistic that she’d do well in this one (insert nervous emoji).

Pablo Larraín shares, “I’m excited to partner again with the Netflix team who care so passionately about movies. This film is my most personal work yet. It is a creative imagining and psychological portrait of Maria Callas who, after dedicating her life to performing for audiences around the world, decides finally to find her voice, and her own identity, and sing for herself. I’m deeply honoured to share this story with audiences worldwide like Maria did with her life.”

Set in1977 Paris, Maria follows the last days of Maria Callas, as she attempts to achieve a few personal accomplishments before she dies. The most important on this list was: finally owning and using her voice for the first time, after being controlled by her mother and her lover, Aristotle Onassis (Haluk Bilinger) for years. Her most desired wish is also her most dangerous due to the increasing heart issues she faces, the act of singing increasingly takes a toll on her health. 

Just like Jackie and Spencer, Maria offers shattering insight into the psychology of a complicated woman. The film is based on her final week alive. It is mostly set in her grand Parisian apartment as she confides in the only two people who truly love her: her cook (Alba Rohrwacher) and butler (Pierfrancesco Favino). Her loyal butler was her lifelong confidant, who persuaded Maria to go see her doctor. Their onscreen relationship was that of a married couple; it was both loving and entertaining. 

So yes, Pablo Larraín has done it again, his leading lady, Jolie’s performance is one of the year’s finest, but possibly one of her career’s best as well. She sinks into Callas’ persona with remarkable ease. Nowhere is this clearer than in the film’s opening scene, which frames Callas in a close-up, singing. The actress isn’t signing everything, her voice is mixed with Callas’ throughout the film’s singing sequences since Callas’ voice is impossible to replicate. Even so, her facial expressions and movements are spot-on, instantly showcasing the complexity of her adaptation.

Release Date: 10th January 2025

Distributed by: Netflix, RAI and StudioCanal