Maria Callas had a great voice and a passion for music. But it wasn’t always easy to follow that passion and let her voice be heard. Her talent, her passion, and her life are the subject of the new film Maria, which is now streaming on Netflix.
The film, which debuted December 11, is already earning accolades for the star turn from Angelina Jolie, who takes on the role of Maria. The film comes from director Pablo Larrain, who previously directed the biopics Spencer, about Princess Diana, and Jackie, about Jackie Kennedy. Both were lauded for their portrayals and style, and both earned accolades for their leading ladies. He makes it a trio with Maria.
The film takes place in the late 1970s, near the end of Maria’s life. She’s living in isolation, struggling to find her once incomparable voice. Though a series of interviews with Mandrax (Kodi Smit-McPhee) she relives her past. We see how she shined on the stage, her personal life, and the various challenges she faced.
This is intercut with her current challenges and work as she tries to deal with failing health and regain her form as a singer. While those in her life and employ are concerned about her, Maria presses on, ignoring the doctors, reflecting on her life and career, and singing with all her heart.
This is a beautifully shot and crafted film. Like the other biopics of famous women, Larrain takes a small slice of life and uses it to explore the central character’s whole life and influence. The period setting, the costumes, and the use of black-and-white for past sequences all works well to create a mood here.
The film is blessed with an incredible lead performance. Jolie clearly pours her heart and soul into the film. There are some incredible sequences where she conveys so much depth of emotion. That’s particularly true of the stunning climax to the film. Jolie earned a Golden Globe nomination for her work and should be on the short list for the Oscar, too.
There is a lot to like here between the look and Jolie’s rich performance. But some of the rest of the story construction feels disjointed. For those who aren’t as familiar with Maria Callas’ life and career, it won’t fill in a lot of gaps. There is a certain style here that’s enjoyable, but it’s missing some of the depth of a traditional biopic.
Still, it’s worth seeing for Jolie’s work and the stunning craft from Larrain. Maria is now streaming on Netflix.