
Maria: The Biopic Of Diva Soprano Maria Callas is Exhausting But Insightful Viewing

Angelina Jolie portrays legendary diva soprano Maria Callas in this magnificent biographical drama directed by Pablo Larrain, which details the last seven days of her life.
Callas recounts the most memorable events in her life and career to a journalist who was filming a documentary about this world-renowned opera singer. Her fans wanted to know what happened to her after so many years out of the limelight.
The sombre opening scene set on September 17, 1977, shows Callas lying on the floor in her Paris apartment pronounced dead from a heart attack at the age of 53. She had concerns about her health the week leading up to her untimely death – her heart and liver were failing, and it was just a matter of time before she succumbed to her ailments. The world mourned her passing.
The movie aptly entitled Maria, details her long-standing affair with Aristotle Onassis, one of the richest and most famous and influential men in the world who claimed that Maria was his life. Her meeting with President John F. Kennedy is noted, the deep respect she had for her butler and her youthful years when her mother forced her to sing.
Divided in three acts, this movie is filmed in colour and when the story veers to Callas’ past in flashbacks, these scenes are beautifully filmed in black and white.
Described as electric by American composer Albert Bernstein, Callas was ambitious and rebellious. She once stated, “Audiences expect miracles. I can no longer perform miracles. I will never perform again.”
Her passion for the opera was evident and not having performed on stage for several years she secretly dreamed of a comeback which was unfortunately not to be as she was told, “You’re 53. Forget the music. Your voice has gone to heaven.”
Angelina Jolie is radiant and delivers a career defining performance as Callas, her resemblance to the opera singer is uncanny. She reportedly spent seven months training as an opera singer and most of the final versions of the surreal musical sequences in the movie were created by blending Callas’ voice with Jolie’s.
This movie is exhaustive viewing, but audiences should be enchanted by the sheer artistry of the entire production. The bygone eras of the 50s and 60s are astutely recreated, with exquisite costumes and set designs matching and perhaps even surpassing the elegance of the period.
Filming locations include Budapest, Paris and Greece with the opera sequences having been filmed at La Scala Opera House in Milan.
Maria is a movie that should appeal to discerning moviegoers who have an interest in learning more about the life and career of this famous opera singer, but also for lovers of opera in general.
Maria
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In Cinemas January 30