Maria (2024 film)
{{Short description|2024 film by Pablo Larraín}}
{{About||the 2024 French film|Being Maria}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Maria
| image = Maria (2024 film).jpeg
| caption = Release poster
| director = Pablo Larraín
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Juan de Dios Larraín
- Jonas Dornbach
- Lorenzo Mieli
- Pablo Larraín
- Janine Jackowski
- Maren Ade
- Simone Gattoni
}}
| writer = Steven Knight
| based_on =
| starring = {{Plainlist|
}}
| music =
| cinematography = Edward Lachman
| editing = Sofía Subercaseaux
| production_companies = {{Plainlist|
- Fremantle
- The Apartment Pictures
- Komplizen Film
- Fábula
- FilmNation Entertainment
}}
| distributor = {{Plainlist|
- 01 Distribution (Italy)
- StudioCanal (Germany)
- Netflix (United States)
}}
| released = {{Film date|2024|8|29|Venice|2024|11|27|United States|2025|1|1|Italy|2025|2|6|Germany}}
| runtime = 124 minutes
| country = {{plainlist|
- Italy
- Germany
- United States
}}
| language = {{Plainlist|
- English
- Greek
}}
| budget =
| gross = $24.4 million{{cite Box Office Mojo|id=22893404|title=Maria|access-date=24 April 2025}}{{cbignore}}
}}
Maria is a 2024 biographical psychological drama film directed by Pablo Larraín and written by Steven Knight. It is an international co-production between Italy, Germany and the United States. The film stars Angelina Jolie as opera singer Maria Callas, and follows the seven days before her 1977 death in Paris, as she reflects on her life and career.{{cite web|url=https://www.classicfm.com/artists/maria-callas/angelina-jolie-biopic-opera-singer/|access-date=5 October 2023|website=Classic FM|title=Angelina Jolie to star as legendary Greek operatic soprano Maria Callas in new musical biopic|first=Maddy|last=Shaw Roberts|date=2 October 2023}} It also stars Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, Stephen Ashfield, Valeria Golino, and Kodi Smit-McPhee in supporting roles. It is the third film in Larraín's trilogy of 20th-century iconic women, following Jackie (2016), and Spencer (2021).
The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 29, 2024, where it competed for the Golden Lion and received generally positive reviews from critics, who singled out Jolie's performance for praise. It was released in select theaters in the United States on November 27, 2024, before streaming on Netflix on December 11. It was theatrically released in Italy by 01 Distribution on January 1, 2025, before its release in Germany by StudioCanal on February 6. The film earned a nomination for Best Cinematography at the 97th Academy Awards, while Jolie was nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.
Plot
In 1977, Maria Callas lives in an apartment in Paris, with her butler Ferruccio and housekeeper Bruna. She is attempting to sing again after a years-long hiatus in her opera career due to her declining health. While Ferruccio insists that she see a doctor and take the correct amount of medication, Maria continues to overuse Mandrax, which she claims helps her despite its side effects. Maria informs Ferruccio and Bruna that a television crew will be arriving to interview her about her life. The crew arrives, led by a young filmmaker named "Mandrax". It becomes clear that Mandrax and his cameraman are a hallucination caused by the medication, with Ferruccio and Bruna not seeing them. Over the week, Maria also attends private sessions with conductor Jeffrey Tate to know if she can perform again.
Prompted by Mandrax's "interviews" and hallucinations, Maria begins recalling memories of her former love affair with Greek business magnate Aristotle Onassis, who would eventually marry Jackie Kennedy. Although she initially declined his advances in 1957, she quickly fell in love with him and left her husband Giovanni Battista Meneghini. She eventually left Onassis as he and the public scrutiny around their relationship constrained her. However, she still secretly saw him on his deathbed and admitted that she did love him.
Over the week, Maria continues to hallucinate due to her overuse of Mandrax. The hallucinations cause her to remember her teenage self during World War II being forced by her mother to sing for Italian and German officers in exchange for money. One day, she meets with her older sister Yakinthi, and they reconcile over how their mother treated them.
Maria finally acquiesces to see Dr. Fontainebleau, initially lying about her drug usage in their first appointment. Upon their second appointment, Fontainebleau reveals that her health has worsened after seeing medical reports given by Ferruccio, stating that she may no longer be able to sing. After this, Maria attends a final session with Tate, bringing an audio recorder to record her voice. It becomes clear that her singing voice has declined, unable to match her voice at the heights of her career, to her sorrow. A Le Figaro journalist reveals himself to have spied on the session and rudely questions her about her career before Ferruccio pushes him away.
Maria expresses gratitude to Ferruccio and Bruna for being beside her over the years. The next morning, when Ferruccio and Bruna are out for groceries, Maria triumphantly sings Vissi d'arte one last time in her apartment, leaving her windows open, having found peace with herself. Many Parisians on the street surround the apartment to listen, as well as Ferruccio and Bruna, silently moved by her performance. Onassis and Mandrax are also shown inside the apartment listening in, before vanishing in front of our eyes. Ferruccio and Bruna arrive inside the apartment and discover Maria dead on the floor. Ferruccio calls Fontainebleau, reporting her death, before the authorities arrive.
Cast
- Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas
- Christiana Aloneftis as young Maria (1947)
- Aggelina Papadopoulou as young Maria (1940)
- Lídia Zelikman Kauders as young Maria (1930)
- Pierfrancesco Favino as Ferruccio, Maria's loyal butler
- Alba Rohrwacher as Bruna, Maria's loyal housekeeper
- Haluk Bilginer as Aristotle Onassis, Maria's former partner
- Kodi Smit-McPhee as Mandrax, Maria's hallucination in the form of a young filmmaker
- Stephen Ashfield as Jeffrey Tate, a conductor who worked with Maria at the end of her career
- Valeria Golino as Yakinthi Callas, Maria's older sister
- Erofili Panagiotarea as young Yakinthi Callas
- Caspar Phillipson as John F. Kennedy
- Vincent Macaigne as Dr. Fontainebleau, a doctor sent by Ferruccio to check on Maria
- Lydia Koniordou as Litsa Callas, Maria's mother
- Alessandro Bressanello as Giovanni Battista Meneghini, Maria's ex-husband
- Lyes Salem as Waiter
- Suzie Kennedy as Marilyn Monroe
Production
File:Maria (2024 film)-64582.jpg]]
Pablo Larraín signed on to direct, working from a script by Steven Knight. The film is produced by Juan de Dios Larraín for Fabula, Lorenzo Mieli for The Apartment Pictures, a Fremantle company, and Jonas Dornbach for Komplizen Film.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/angelina-jolie-maria-callas-movie-cannes-market-filmnation-1235361309/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=5 October 2023|title=Maria Callas Biopic Starring Angelina Jolie Heads To Cannes Market With FilmNation|first=Andreas|last= Wiseman|date=May 10, 2023}} Angelina Jolie's casting in the lead role was announced in October 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/angelina-jolie-maria-callas-pablo-larrain-1235246234/|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=5 October 2023|title= Angelina Jolie to Play Maria Callas in Next Biopic From Pablo Larrain|first=Alex|last=Ritman|date=21 October 2022}}
Filming began in Budapest in October 2023, with other filming locations including Paris; Milan, where scenes were filmed at the La Scala opera house; and Pyrgos and Katakolo in Greece. Scenes set on Onassis's yacht Christina O were filmed on the actual vessel, which was rented for filming.{{cite magazine |last1=Rathe |first1=Adam |title=How Maria Recreated Maria Callas's Paris Apartment |url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a63184293/maria-set-design-maria-callas-paris-apartment-interview-2024/ |magazine=Town and Country |date=15 December 2024 |access-date=20 February 2025}} Production designer Guy Hendrix Dyas worked with Larraín on the visual concept, helping fuse the 1940 to 1970s style with the surreal musical sequences. According to the film's producers, no new fur was sourced for Jolie's garments which are based on Callas' original garments, with consultation with animal rights groups such as PETA regarding vintage fur items worn in the film from the archive collection of costume designer Massimo Cantini Parrini.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/valeria-golino-angelina-jolie-maria-callas-pablo-larrain-biopic-1235746237/|access-date=5 October 2023|website=Variety|date=5 October 2023|first=Nick|last=Vivarelli|title=Valeria Golino Joins Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas' Sister in Pablo Larraín's Biopic}}{{cite web|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=9 October 2023|date=9 October 2023|title= First Images of Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas Unveiled as Pablo Larrain's Biopic 'Maria' Begins Shooting|first=Alex|last=Ritman|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/angelina-jolie-maria-callas-images-pablo-larrain-1235612496/}} Parrini created 60 dresses for Jolie.{{sfn|Bender|2025|p=108}}
To prepare for her role, Jolie spent seven months training to sing opera.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/festivals/angelina-jolie-maria-singing-opera-training-seven-months-terribly-nervous-1236122176/|title=Angelina Jolie Spent 'Almost Seven Months' Training to Sing Opera in 'Maria': 'I Had Not Sung in Public' Before and 'Was Terribly Nervous'|date=August 29, 2024 |website=Variety}} She was deeply anxious and doubtful of her singing abilities at first; her vocal coach Eric Vetro recalls Jolie breaking into tears at one point. To replicate Callas' singing techniques, particularly her ability to hold notes, Vetro had her study a series of courses taught by Callas herself. Jolie also received guidance from opera singer Lori Stinson.{{cite web |last1=Laffly |first1=Tomris |title=He Helps Angelina Jolie and Timothée Chalamet Sing Onscreen |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/movies/vocal-coach-angelina-jolie-ariana-grande-timothee-chalamet.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=February 18, 2025 |date=February 5, 2025}} For the scenes set during Callas' heyday, an estimated 90 to 95 percent of Callas' original recordings were used, with Jolie lip-synching along to these songs. However, Jolie's singing comes to the fore during the film's final act.{{cite web |first=David |last=Canfield |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/maria-angelina-jolie-pablo-larrain-awards-insider |title=In Maria, Angelina Jolie and Pablo Larraín Bring an Opera Icon to Staggering Life |website=Vanity Fair |date=August 23, 2024 |access-date=September 15, 2024}}{{cite web |first=Owen |last=Gleiberman |authorlink=Owen Gleiberman |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/maria-review-angelina-jolie-pablo-larrain-maria-callas-venice-film-festival-1236121302/ |title=Maria Review: Angelina Jolie Is Commanding as Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín's Lavish but Overly Fatalistic Drama |work=Variety |date=August 29, 2024}}
Release
Maria had its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 29, 2024, where it competed for the Golden Lion.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-09 |title=Biennale Cinema 2024 {{!}} Maria |url=https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2024/venezia-81-competition/maria |access-date=2024-07-23 |publisher=Venice Biennale}} On the day before its premiere, the film's US distribution rights were acquired by Netflix.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/angelina-jolie-movie-maria-acquired-netflix-1236071817/|title=Netflix Takes U.S. Rights To Pablo Larraín's 'Maria' Starring Angelina Jolie|first=Matt|last=Grobar|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 28, 2024|access-date=September 24, 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Umberto |date=2024-08-28 |title=Netflix Acquires Angelina Jolie's 'Maria' From Director Pablo Larraín for US Distribution |url=https://www.thewrap.com/netflix-angelina-jolie-maria-pablo-larrain/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=TheWrap}} Following the premiere, FilmNation Entertainment handled some of the film's international distribution deals, with Mubi releasing in Canada, 01 Distribution handling its release in Italy, and StudioCanal handling its release in the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/maria-venice-pablo-larrain-angelina-jolie-studiocanal-uk-international-1236073737/|title=Pablo Larraín & Angelina Jolie's 'Maria' Sells Worldwide Following Buzzy Venice Debut|first=Zac|last=Ntim|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 30, 2024|access-date=August 30, 2024}}
The film was released in select theaters in the United States on November 27, 2024, before streaming on Netflix on December 11.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/maria-angelina-jolie-release-date-netflix-1236153009/|title=Angelina Jolie's Oscar Vehicle 'Maria' Gets Release Date by Netflix (Exclusive)|first=Clayton|last=Davis|magazine=Variety|date=September 23, 2024|access-date=September 25, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/maria-angelina-jolie-release-date-photos-news|title=Angelina Jolie Is Coming to Netflix as Maria Callas|first=John|last=DiLillo|website=Netflix Tudum|date=September 24, 2024|access-date=September 24, 2024}} It was released in theatres in Italy on January 1, 2025,{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZeydeOKaZA|title= Maria di Pablo Larraín (2025) – Teaser Trailer Ufficiale HD|author=01 Distribution|date=September 30, 2024|access-date=October 2, 2024|via=YouTube}} before being released in the UK and Ireland on January 10, and later in Germany on February 6.{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l1J14b96d4|title= Maria {{!}} Official Teaser |author=StudioCanal|date=September 26, 2024|access-date=October 2, 2024|via=YouTube}}
It was featured in the Limelight section of the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam to be screened in February 2025.{{cite web|url=https://iffr.com/en/iffr/2025/films/maria |title=Limelight: Maria |work=International Film Festival Rotterdam|access-date=7 January 2025}}
Reception
=Critical response=
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|76|6.8|164|Angelina Jolie unveils new highs within her emotional register in Pablo Larraín's Maria, keeping this tragic biopic compelling even when its theatrics go off-key.|ref=yes|access-date=January 3, 2024}}
{{Metacritic film prose|62|48|ref=yes|access-date=December 28, 2024}} John Vandevert from OperaWire rebuked the film due to its, "distasteful portrayal of a multi-dimensional woman unable to be portrayed by anyone other than her."{{Cite web |last=OperaWire |date=2025-01-14 |title=Opera Meets Film: The Tragedy of Pablo Larraín's 'Maria' (Review) |url=https://operawire.com/opera-meets-film-the-tragedy-of-pablo-larrains-maria-review/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=OperaWire |language=en-US}}
The film received an eight-minute standing ovation at the Sala Grande Theatre during its world premiere, bringing Angelina Jolie to tears.{{Cite web |first1=Ramin |last1=Setoodeh |first2=Alex |last2=Ritman |date=August 29, 2024 |title=Angelina Jolie Weeps Through Rapturous 8-Minute Venice Standing Ovation for 'Maria,' Launching Oscar Buzz |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/festivals/angelina-jolie-weeps-maria-venice-standing-ovation-pablo-larrain-oscar-buzz-1236115537/ |access-date=September 6, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{cite web |first=Alli |last=Rosenbloom |date=August 29, 2024 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/29/entertainment/angelina-jolie-maria-venice/index.html |title=Angelina Jolie moved to tears during 'Maria' standing ovation at Venice Film Festival |work=CNN |access-date=September 15, 2024}}
Filmmaker Paul Schrader cited it as among his favorite films of 2024.{{cite news |date=December 20, 2024 |title=The Best Films of 2024 As Chosen by Some of Its Key Filmmakers |url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/128311-the-best-films-of-2024-as-chosen-by-some-of-its-key-filmmakers/ |access-date=March 22, 2025 |work=Filmmaker}}
Accolades
References
{{reflist}}
Works cited
- {{cite magazine |last=Bender |first=Abbey |date=2025 |title=The Final Outfits |volume=33 |issue=2 |magazine=Filmmaker |publisher=The Gotham Film & Media Institute}}
External links
- {{IMDb title}}
{{Pablo Larraín}}
{{Steven Knight}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maria (2024 film}}
Category:2024 biographical drama films
Category:2020s English-language films
Category:American biographical drama films
Category:Biographical films about singers
Category:Cultural depictions of Maria Callas
Category:English-language biographical drama films
Category:English-language German films
Category:English-language Italian films
Category:FilmNation Entertainment films
Category:Films directed by Pablo Larraín
Category:Films partially in color
Category:Films produced by Lorenzo Mieli
Category:Films set in the 1970s
Category:Films shot in Budapest
Category:Films with screenplays by Steven Knight
Category:German biographical drama films
Category:Italian biographical drama films