Oscar-winner Jolie brings tragedy and triumph to the last days of opera singer Maria Callas.
Pablo Larrain/Netflix
DirectorPablo Larrainhas a fascination with beautiful, melancholy women, and withMariahe delivers a haunting aria.
Of his “sad woman” trilogy, which includesJackieandSpencer, Mariais the most impeccable of the bunch.
Angelina Jolie in ‘Maria’.Credit:Pablo Larrain/Netflix
Angelina Joliestars as opera diva Maria Callas in the last week of her life.
She attempts to return to singing, if only for her own satisfaction, despite warnings from a physician.
The spectacle and grandeur of the opera emanate from every frame, emphasizing Maria’s vulnerability within cavernous spaces.
Angelina Jolie in ‘Maria’.Pablo Larrain/Netflix
Jolie wanders through the frame with a paradoxical blend of imperious diva and lost little girl.
It’s a remarkable portrait of a woman reckoning with herself, even as her body fails her.
Thus, it’s never clear when we’re witnessing something real or something imagined.
Angelina Jolie in ‘Maria’.Pablo Larrain/Netflix
But for every indulgent quip or demand, we also see the delicate creature underneath.
It’s a story of deterioration bathed in golden light and decorated with beautiful accouterments.
Want more movie news?
Maria is a restless soul, an unreliable narrator, and an imposing presence.
