Maria (2024)
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In the final week of her life in 1977, opera icon Maria Callas navigates a haze of memories and hallucinations while attempting to reclaim her voice.
The story
In 1977, opera legend Maria Callas lives in a Paris apartment, struggling with declining health and a long hiatus from the stage. Accompanied by her loyal butler Ferruccio and housekeeper Bruna, she attempts to sing again while grappling with the effects of medication. When a television crew—which she perceives as a hallucination—arrives to interview her, the experience triggers a series of vivid memories regarding her past, her career, and her complicated romantic history with the wealthy Aristotle Onassis. As she prepares for a final musical assessment, Callas must confront the reality of her physical decline and the legacy she leaves behind.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1977, Maria Callas resides in a Paris apartment with her butler Ferruccio and housekeeper Bruna. While struggling with failing health, she attempts to reclaim her voice, often relying on Mandrax to cope with the physical toll. She believes a film crew is arriving to interview her, but the crew is actually a hallucination caused by her medication. During this week, she undergoes sessions with conductor Jeffrey Tate and reflects on her past, including a tumultuous romance with Aristotle Onassis and her traumatic upbringing during World War II. She eventually meets her sister, Yakinthi, and reconciles their shared past. Despite initial deception regarding her drug use, she sees Dr. Fontainebleau, who confirms her health is failing. In a final session with Tate, she realizes her voice can no longer reach its former heights. After a confrontation with a journalist, she finds peace and performs 'Vissi d'arte' one last time in her apartment. The performance is heard by neighbors in the street. The next morning, Ferruccio and Bruna find her dead on the floor.
- First release year
- 2024
- Runtime (minutes)
- 124
- Production countries
- Italy; Germany; Chile; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Pablo Larraín
- Writers
- Steven Knight · writer
- Cast and characters
- Angelina Jolie · Maria Callas; Pierfrancesco Favino · Ferruccio, Maria's loyal butler; Alba Rohrwacher · Bruna, Maria's loyal housekeeper; Haluk Bilginer · Aristotle Onassis, Maria's former partner; Kodi Smit-McPhee · Mandrax, Maria's hallucination in the form of a young filmmaker; Stephen Ashfield · Jeffrey Tate, a conductor who worked with Maria at the end of her career; Valeria Golino · Yakinthi Callas, Maria's older sister; Vincent Macaigne · Dr. Fontainebleau, a doctor sent by Ferruccio to check on Maria
- Genres
- biographical; psychological drama
- Themes
- memory; fame; aging; legacy
- Tone and mood
- somber; surreal
- Premise and plot tags
- biographical; musical; historical
- Franchise connections
- Larraín's trilogy of iconic 20th-century women
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who specifically praised Angelina Jolie's performance.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 63 · scale: 100 · review count: 50
- Awards and nominations
- Best Cinematography · Academy Awards · 97th · nomination; Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama · Golden Globe Awards · 82nd · nomination
- Production trivia
- Angelina Jolie spent seven months training to sing opera for her role.; The film features surreal musical sequences.; No new fur was used for the costumes.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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