Director Pablo Larraín, known for his dramatic films about the lives of legendary women ("Jackie," "Spencer"), has presented his new work, "Maria," dedicated to the last week of the life of opera diva Maria Callas. The role of this 20th-century icon is played by Angelina Jolie, whose return to the big screen is already a significant event in the global film industry.
The Final Week of a Legend
The film does not attempt to uncover new facts from Callas's biography. Instead, it offers an intimate portrait of a great woman at the twilight of her life. The action unfolds a week before the singer's death in Paris. Maria, overwhelmed by illness and surrounded by the care of her cook and butler, immerses herself in a world of hallucinations and memories. She no longer sings, but her inner voice, portrayed / conveyed by Jolie with astonishing strength and depth, is still full of emotion.
Beauty and Imperfection
In this film, Angelina Jolie is not only gorgeous but also touchingly vulnerable. Larraín shows not only Callas's sculptural beauty but also her human imperfections. She is not an haughty diva craving attention but a living woman with her own bitter humor. Callas performed by Jolie is witty and ironic, helping balance the film's melodramatic tone. The audience is offered a view of Callas from within, from the depths of her own consciousness.
Jolie's grand comeback
"Maria" is likely to become one of the major cinematic events of the awards season. The film will undoubtedly mark a turning point for Angelina Jolie's return to major filmmaking after a period devoted to family and theater. Of course, there will be debates about the dominance of the visual aspects over the storyline and discussions about the costumes, as in Larraín's previous works, play a crucial role.
