Maria, between follies and sweets at the heart of her last lives

Unlike recent and future biopics based, more or less, on the experience of artists in the musical environment, “Maria” traces that of the singer during her last moments of existence in Paris. Intimate and touching, this film is an opportunity to know a little more about the incredible “Callas”.
Maria is dying internally and externally. His servants, Bruna and Ferruccio, also feel it. The reality is incredibly mixed quickly and well with its past and its memories, allowing Callas to forget itself. Whether it is the end of his concerts, his attempt to go back on stage or, think less about the means of living a few years in addition. Ferruccio who has known her for so long, feels completely lost. He can no longer help his friend and patron as best as possible. Worse, the butler fears to find her dead in Paris or in their sumptuous and magnificent apartment. Bruna is trying to support in the best way this incredible opposite duo. But she too press a sad end …
If the new generation risks knowing less the very great diva Maria Anna Cecilia Sofia Kalogeropoulos, better known as Maria Callas, the new feature film of Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín (“Spencer”) immerses the public at the heart of a Part of his life gently, realism and a certain kindness, tinged with madness.
To do this, the said director and his colleague Steven Knight (“A Vive!”) Have on the one hand, decided to show only the last moments of the singer. On the other, they were mainly documenting through personal films of the lyric singer or her ex-husband, Aristotle Onassis.
The production also referenced through the rare information shared by the domestic Ferruccio Mezzadri (played by Pierfrancesco Favino “the count of Monte-Cristo”), always alive and very discreet. Thus, the man has never written a book or sold anecdotes in relation to his work with “La Callas”, in order to enrich himself for example.
Succeed in shooting a partial biopic on such a great lady remains incredible, especially since the masterpiece keeps a part of intimacy and a certain poetry through the incredible presence of the actress Angelina Jolie (“The eternal »).
It has also been fully invested in “Maria” and it is felt from its 1re Scene in black and white. His sequences are authentic, because the filmmaker Pablo Larraín wanted as for this scene and others in this format, to make them realistic.
The intention was also to transport the spectators-shots through the decades experienced by the singer. Thus, the Super 8 (mm), the 35 mm and the 16 mm in terms of the lenses of the cameras, were used very wisely, with an incredible image rendering and creating an exceptional return of yesteryear.
To succeed in perfectly recreating the environments of the end of the singer’s life, production chooses to find accommodation resembling the one where she lived with her 2 employees.
Although it is Paris in reality, it was impossible to turn to avenue Georges Mandel for logistical reasons and because the apartment in question has been occupied by other people for a long time.
The technical team therefore decided to settle in Budapest. Because part of the city districts, resemble Paris. They adapted a few outdoor sets and built an appropriate interior for the addition of cameras and other aspects allowing the magic of the cinema to operate.
Vocally, Angelina Jolie has worked a lot and it can be seen quickly enough. According to the post-production team, his voice was mixed with that of Maria Anna Cecilia Sofia Kalogeropoulos in the high notes in order to create the harmony sought.
Thus, his investment for this dramatic role brings an undeniable added value compared to “Maria”. His 6 months of lessons in order to learn a minimum of Italian and above all, the song and the opera, allowed him to embody “La Callas” admirably.
Addressing a large audience, even the new generation which must know very little the woman and the singer, “Maria” allows spectators to live a last moment with her, to let themselves be invaded and carried by the magic of the opera.
Ultimately, an excellent biopic deserving its success.
Maria
USA – Chi – ITA – ALL – 2024
Duration: 2h03 min
Biopic, Drame
Director: Pablo Larraín
Avec: Angelina Jolie, Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, Valeria Giolino, Vincent Macaigne
Pathé Films Switzerland
05.02.2025 at the cinema