Review of 'Maria'

Telling the story of opera singer Maria Callas' (Angelina Jolie) last days in 1970s Paris this film opens with the obstructed view of a figure laying on the floor as police and others walk around the body. This sets the tone for what is a rather dark, sad ending to Callas' life as the clock is rewound to show the months leading up to her death as she struggles with her vocal coach Jeffrey Tate (Stephen Ashfield) in a bid to return to the stage. This is contrasted with scenes from her career recreating some of her greatest triumphs as a true “prima donna” of the operatic world and the demands this put on her. Callas is portrayed as a woman who has everything but the one thing that made her famous - her voice, which is now failing her along with her health. This was her world and her sad desperation is all too plain.

Yeah, this is not exactly a fun watch and it is quite slowly paced with the director taking pains to show the beauty not only of the woman he features but also the world she inhabited. It is, at the end, a sad story that finds solace in recreation of Callas' amazing career but at the end she passes away alone in a Paris apartment surrounded by her household staff but mourned by the world. We learn details about her personal life such as her high-flying, fast-paced but deeply passionate relationship with Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis (Haluk Bilginer) at the height of her career and his ultimate betrayal which deeply hurt her, perhaps bringing her back to earth from the lifestyle she enjoyed.

Jolie's performance is of a stylish, aloof woman with a deep, passionate personality with a captivating public persona but living a troubled, lonely life in her later years, struggling to recapture the triumph of her youth. Her cool manner perfectly suits the character with the deliberate body language of a woman who appears to be completely in control.

I found the film quite long and a bit on the dry side. The two I watched the film with, who are both passionate about music and appreciative fans of Callas, could not even keep their eyes open (though, fair enough, it was a bit late in the evening). It looks great and Jolie is amazing but it just did not grab me though I certainly appreciate the care and love that was obviously put into the film.

Rating: “It is OK but I have some issues”

Review Date: 2025-11-08

Directed by: Pablo Larraín

Studio: The Apartment

Year: 2024

Length: 124 minutes

Genre: Melodrama

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22893404/