"Maria" -- Movie Review

At the beginning of the first week of the 62^nd New York Film Festival, I attended a screening of “Maria”, starring Angelina Jolie.

Synopsis

The final days of the late opera singer Maria Callas as she resides in Paris post-retirement. 

Story

Maria Callas (Jolie) has been retired from her career as a world-famous opera singer for about the past four years – and she’s miserable.  Originally, she retired because she felt that her voice was no longer what it once was.  By now, she’s bored and considers a return to the stage.  As much as she wants this comeback, her age and quality of her voice seem to betray her; she hires a pianist to accompany her at a Paris opera theater not far from where she lives, but is disappointed when she hears what is now coming out of her mouth.  Trying to be supportive, the pianist suggests that this is simply because she’s out of practice and with more attempts, she’ll improve.

Callas is in mourning over her past life – both professional and personal – which she gradually comes to realize she will never regain.  As far as her romantic life was concerned, there were many men who were interested in her either because of her talent or her fame.  She had an affair with the wealthy Aristotle Onassis, who eventually went on to marry the widowed Jacqueline Kennedy.  Callas was only casually interested in him, but was more impressed by his vast wealth.  Although American born and of Greek descent, she was raised in Europe during World War II where the Nazis paid her to entertain them with her singing. 

In September of 1977, during her final days, Callas arranges an interview with a television station that wants to do a documentary about her life.  But at times, it seems as though the interviewer is only a figment of her imagination as he mysteriously comes and goes throughout.  It seems as though Callas wishes this to be true rather than actually in fact taking place; she obviously misses being in the spotlight and craves the attention and exultation.  One reality which she cannot escape is her doctor’s diagnosis of her health – something of which she appears to be in denial.  Can “La Divina” successfully make her comeback before it’s too late? 

Review

Like an opera itself, “Maria” is melodramatic – not to mention a bit overwrought as well.  But the diva known as La Callas would probably have had it no other way.  Unfortunately, the movie about her last days suffers from this and makes the end result rather unappealing.  While certainly not terrible, it is not well served by the director’s lionization of the film’s main character.  There is an attempt to show Callas in a warts-and-all way, but for the purpose of the story, she can’t be made out to be too obnoxious for fear of losing the audience’s support and empathy.  Nevertheless, her occasional oddball behavior could probably be written off as ego of an artiste. 

Among the positives here include Jolie’s performance as Callas.  She is convincing in the Diva role, almost considering herself as royalty despite the public brickbats hurled in her direction, in part due to her early retirement from the stage.  One becomes unsure as to whether they should feel sympathy toward Callas or the people around her, whom she appears to take for granted in spite of their loyalty.  Technically, the filmmaker chose to show flashbacks in black and white in order to make it clear that these scenes were happening in the past and were merely Callas’ memories as she reflects on her life. 

Following the screening, there was an interview with director Pablo Larraín  and some of the cast.  Larraín claimed that Angelina Jolie did some of her own singing in the film; Jolie said that she went to a vocal coach to help her learn how to sing opera for certain scenes.  The director said that he had two passions in life:  movies and opera.  Jolie said that while she was interested in working with this director, she was quite intimidated at the thought of playing Callas.  She also prepared by listening to recordings of Callas’ singing.  Alba Rohrwacher, who played Callas’ cook, mentioned that she went to a cooking teacher to help her learn how to flip omelets in the frying pan.

IMDB