Angelina Jolie introduced Pablo Larrain’s new film “Maria” about opera legend Maria Callas at a private screening during the Toronto Film Festival on Sunday. The biopic, which premiered last month at the Venice Film Festival, offers an intimate look at Callas’s life in the 1970s as she faced struggles with her artistry and self-esteem.
Jolie, who portrays Callas in the film, said the character experienced “highs and greatest highs” when able to connect emotionally with audiences through her music. However, Callas also had low points where she felt unable to connect that “really broke her.” The film aims to show both the extraordinary talent and complex humanity of a woman often remembered solely for her opera career.
“I hope viewers leave with a deeper appreciation of who Callas was as a person, not just her talents,” Jolie told the audience. She wants the biopic to honor Callas’s legacy and generate new interest in her musical achievements.
Taking place in Callas’s later years, “Maria” focuses on her as she reflects on her life and rise to fame as one of the greatest opera singers in history. Larrain’s film promises an authentic yet reimagined look at Callas’s tumultuous personal story through this narrative lens.
Netflix has already obtained distribution rights to “Maria” and an impressive international cast was assembled including Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, and Kodi Smit-McPhee. The film comes from an accomplished creative team led by screenwriter Steven Knight and producers Juan de Dios Larraín, Jonas Dornbach, and Lorenzo Mieli.
As “Maria” moves forward with its wider release, film industry insiders will watch closely given Jolie’s passionate support and hopes it offers audiences both a tribute to Callas’s talent and examination of her struggles with celebrity. Viewers can anticipate learning more about the human experiences behind the artist’s legendary career and music.
