Pablo Larraín's film Maria attempts to portray the life of the famous opera singer Maria Callas, but it doesn't fully capture her strength and mystery. The film focuses mainly on the tragic aspects of her life, such as her difficult relationship with Onassis, the pressure of her career, and the pain caused by her fame. It is a film about sadness and suffering, but it misses the opportunity to highlight her immense talent and the beauty of her voice.
Nevertheless, the film does have its strengths. The cinematography is stunning, and Larraín's direction captures the heavy atmosphere of Callas' life well. The film subtly portrays the loneliness of her existence. The costumes and sets are beautiful and provide a visual tribute to the opera world in which Callas lived. The music is also well-chosen and creates some emotional moments that deepen the story.
One of the biggest issues with the film is the casting of Angelina Jolie in the lead role. She is a talented actress, but her appearance doesn't quite align with how Maria Callas looked. Callas had a very unique, but not "perfect" face-her face was full of emotion and vulnerability, which made her so human and real. Jolie's face often looks too polished, making it harder to see the true Maria Callas. Instead of Callas, the viewer mostly sees Angelina Jolie.
The film also lacks balance between showing Callas' sadness and celebrating her incredible musical talent. Callas' voice was one of the most beautiful in opera, and it's a shame that the film focuses so much on the difficult moments of her life. Yes, her life was filled with pain, but it would have been good to also show how magical her performances were, how technically skilled she was, and how much passion she put into every aria. A film about Callas should not only show her as a victim, but also as the great artist she was, who captivated the world again and again with her art.
If Maria Callas had seen this film, she might have felt uncomfortable. Instead of a film that celebrates her talent and voice, we get a somber portrait of her life, with little room for the beauty that defined her career. The film emphasizes her pain, rather than her most glorious moments. This is not what she deserved. Maria Callas deserves more than a film that focuses solely on her sorrow. She deserves a film that celebrates her as the legendary artist she was.
