Film review: Pablo Larrain’s captivating ‘Maria’

Maria (2024), directed by Pablo Larrain, is a moving yet melancholy of a biographical drama film. Released in 2024, the film delves into the life of legendary opera singer Maria Callas during her last days in 1977 Paris before passing away.

Portrayed by Angelina Jolie, Maria is depicted as a complex figure grappling with her identity, fame, and the personal sacrifices she made for her art. The film also features the renowned Turkish actor Haluk Bilginer who plays the role of Aristotle Onassis, Maria’s intense and forbidden love affair relationship.

Her emotional struggles and the eerie memories of her past are captured in the story, which takes place over the course of seven days. Inducing a unique way of telling such a biopic story while also making viewers sympathize with the main character, not to mention the film’s showing of how powerfully beautiful and yet bodily straining opera singing can be on both the singer and listener.

Unique storytelling style

As she deals with her deteriorating health and recollections of her past fame, Callas is shown in the film’s opening scene reflecting. Viewers are introduced to key events in her life, such as her ardent romance with Aristotle Onassis and her climb to fame, through a sequence of flashbacks. The film creates a rich tapestry of her experiences by skillfully contrasting her public persona with her private vulnerabilities.

The unique way in which this story is being told is by Callas herself wanting to write an autobiography of her life. She invites over a small crew film and proceeds to do series of interviews where Maria talks about her opera singing career and why she quit singing and also why she wants to get back into it for one last performance.

She talks about her relationships during her prime especially her infamous relation with Onassis and what that meant for her. All these bits of documentary style interviews while walking around 1977 Paris. But the twist, established early on in the film, with the small film crew and the interviews they are conducting are all an illusion that Maria envisioned. But why?

During the film, Maria is shown taking a drug called Mandrax that was used as a sedative medication primarily prescribed as a sleeping pill and for the treatment of insomnia and relieving anxiety and muscle spams. Because Maria abuses this drug in the film and due to the hypnotic effects of the drug, the interviewer and his cameraman is formed into existence who ironically enough introduces himself as Mandrax.

They follow Maria Callas throughout most of the film and using this plotline the director breaks up the film into 3 parts focusing on specific topics in Maria’s life, at the same time keeping to the 3 act structure of storytelling. Not something that out of this world but an interesting way of blending documentary style filming in an otherwise non-documentary type film.

Maria’s story is marked by its cinematic blending of heightened refinement and dreamlike surrealism. The director uses a mixed aesthetic of images and film of the time, creating a compelling experience that transports the viewer to the 1970s. Such a unique presentation not only pays tribute to Callas’s performances but also invites the viewer to relate to her existence on a more closer level.

Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis

The relationship between Callas and Onassis was an intense yet tragic affair during its time. It is portrayed wonderfully and with care, however, not to the degree most people would’ve have wanted it. The film does not give us much detail about the relationship but from the few scenes that are there provides the audience with a clear understanding of their attraction to one another and leaves room for interpretation as to their true feelings for each other.

Aristotle Onassis’s role in Maria’s life adds a noteworthy depth to the narrative of the film. Haluk Bilginer, despite having limited screentime, puts on a stellar performance of bring the complexity of Onassis’s character to life. His portrayal marks the subtle understanding and emotional dynamic between Callas and Onassis which shows the tension and affection that defined their tumultuous relationship.

Bilginer’s performance in the film can be described as quiet but strong, leaving a lasting impression on the audience. It should be noted that although his character appears on screen briefly, it is a pivotal moment in showing the impact of Onassis on Callas’s life. His ability to show intense emotions within a short time span indicates his expertise in acting and how that is in line with the movie’s theme of loss and love. A truly breath taking performance by the Haluk Bilginer.

The love affair between Aristotle Onassis and Maria Callas was a complicated combination of love, ambition, betrayal, and tragedy. Similar to and in a way mirroring the dramatic operatic roles that Callas was famous for portraying. The most mythic and talked-about love affairs of the 20th century.

Beauty of opera

The use of Opera singing in Maria is not merely for background music on a films soundtrack rather it plays an integral part towards the narrative and character development for Maria Callas. The film indicates to the audience that Maria had faced traumatic experience throughout her life and singing is what helped her cope even though it caused a strain on her health.

The movie features many operatic performances, including the famous aria “Ave Maria,” which serves as a potent emotional touchstone. These musical inserts, interjected throughout the film, not only showcase Callas’s astounding talent but also reveal the profound symbiosis between her art and personal suffering. The operatic material is woven into the story effortlessly, contributing to the film’s cumulative impact and providing a window into Callas’s legacy.

Overall, Maria is a compelling biopic and significant film work that not only chronicles the life of a legendary opera singer but also examines overarching themes of identity, love, and the passage of time. The unconventional narrative style of the movie, combined with fine performances, most notably those of Angelina Jolie and Haluk Bilginer, results in a rich and engaging experience for the viewer.

As viewers reflect on the life of Maria Callas, the film leaves the viewers with a much deeper understanding and appreciation for the complexities of fame, love and artistic expression.