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Maria (2024 film)

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For the 2024 French film, see Being Maria.

Maria
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPablo Larraín
Written bySteven Knight
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyEdward Lachman
Edited bySofía Subercaseaux
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • August 29, 2024 (2024-08-29) (Venice)
  • November 27, 2024 (2024-11-27) (United States)
  • January 1, 2025 (2025-01-01) (Italy)
  • February 6, 2025 (2025-02-06) (Germany)
Running time
124 minutes
Countries
  • Italy
  • Germany
  • United States
Languages
  • English
  • Greek

Maria is a 2024 biographical psychological drama film about opera singer Maria Callas. It is directed by Pablo Larraín, written by Steven Knight, and is an international co-production between Italy, Germany and the United States. The film stars Angelina Jolie in the title role, along with Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, and Kodi Smit-McPhee in supporting roles. It is the third and final film in Larraín's trilogy of important 20th century women, succeeding Jackie (2016) and Spencer (2021).

The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 29, 2024, where it competed for the Golden Lion and received generally positive reviews from critics, who singled out Jolie's performance for praise. It will be released in select theaters in the United States on November 27, 2024, before streaming on Netflix on December 11. It will later be theatrically released in Italy by 01 Distribution on January 1, 2025, and in Germany by StudioCanal on February 6.

Premise

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The film is reportedly set during Callas' final years in the 1970s when she was living in Paris.[1]

Cast

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Production

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The cast of Maria at the 81st Venice International Film Festival.

Pablo Larraín signed on to direct, working from a script by Steven Knight. The film is produced by Juan de Dios Larraín for Fabula, Lorenzo Mieli for The Apartment Pictures, a Fremantle company, and Jonas Dornbach for Komplizen Film.[2] Angelina Jolie came aboard the project as the eponymous Maria in October 2022.[3]

Filming got underway in Budapest in October 2023 with other filming locations including Paris, Greece and Milan. Some material was also filmed at the La Scala opera house. Beforehand, production designer Guy Hendrix Dyas worked with Larraín on the visual concept, helping fuse the 1940 to 1970s style with the surreal musical sequences. According to the film's producers, no new fur was sourced for Jolie's garments which are based on Callas' original garments, with consultation with animal rights groups such as PETA regarding vintage fur items worn in the film from the archive collection of costume designer Massimo Cantini Parrini.[4][5]

To prepare for her role, Jolie spent seven months training to sing opera.[6] The scenes set during Callas' heyday, an estimated 90 to 95 percent of Callas' original recordings were used, with Jolie lip-synching along to these songs. However, Jolie's singing comes to the fore during the film's final act.[7][8]

Release

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The film had its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 29, 2024, where it competed for the Golden Lion.[9] On the day before its premiere, the film's US distribution rights were acquired by Netflix.[10][11] Following the premiere, FilmNation Entertainment handled some of the film's international distribution deals, with 01 Distribution handling its release in Italy, and StudioCanal handling its release in the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland.[12]

It will be released in select theaters in the United States on November 27, 2024, before streaming on Netflix on December 11.[13][14] It will later be theatrically released in Italy on January 1, 2025,[15] in the UK and Ireland on January 10, and in Germany on February 6.[16]

Reception

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Critical reception

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 77% of 65 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.60/10. The website's consensus reads: "Angelina Jolie unveils new highs within her emotional register in Pablo Larraín's Maria, keeping this tragic biopic compelling even when its theatrics go off-key."[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 63 out of 100, based on 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[18]

The film received an eight-minute standing ovation at the Sala Grande Theatre during its world premiere, reducing Angelina Jolie to tears.[19][20]

Accolades

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Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Venice International Film Festival September 7, 2024 Golden Lion Pablo Larraín Nominated [21]
Middleburg Film Festival October 20, 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award for Cinematography Edward Lachman Won [22]
Celebration of Latino Cinema & Television October 22, 2024 Director Award – Film Pablo Larraín Won [23]
Savannah Film Festival November 2, 2024 Auteur Award Won [24]
Gotham Awards December 2, 2024 Performer Tribute Angelina Jolie Honored [25]
Santa Barbara International Film Festival February 5, 2025 Maltin Modern Master Award Honored [26]

References

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  1. ^ Shaw Roberts, Maddy (October 2, 2023). "Angelina Jolie to star as legendary Greek operatic soprano Maria Callas in new musical biopic". Classic FM. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  2. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (May 10, 2023). "Maria Callas Biopic Starring Angelina Jolie Heads To Cannes Market With FilmNation". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  3. ^ Ritman, Alex (October 21, 2022). "Angelina Jolie to Play Maria Callas in Next Biopic From Pablo Larrain". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  4. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (October 5, 2023). "Valeria Golino Joins Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas' Sister in Pablo Larraín's Biopic". Variety. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  5. ^ Ritman, Alex (October 9, 2023). "First Images of Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas Unveiled as Pablo Larrain's Biopic 'Maria' Begins Shooting". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  6. ^ "Angelina Jolie Spent 'Almost Seven Months' Training to Sing Opera in 'Maria': 'I Had Not Sung in Public' Before and 'Was Terribly Nervous'". Variety. August 29, 2024.
  7. ^ Canfield, David (August 23, 2024). "In Maria, Angelina Jolie and Pablo Larraín Bring an Opera Icon to Staggering Life". vanityfair.com. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  8. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (August 29, 2024). "Maria Review: Angelina Jolie Is Commanding as Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín's Lavish but Overly Fatalistic Drama". Variety.
  9. ^ "Biennale Cinema 2024 | Maria". La Biennale di Venezia. July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  10. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 28, 2024). "Netflix Takes U.S. Rights To Pablo Larraín's 'Maria' Starring Angelina Jolie". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  11. ^ Gonzalez, Umberto (August 28, 2024). "Netflix Acquires Angelina Jolie's 'Maria' From Director Pablo Larraín for US Distribution". TheWrap. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  12. ^ Ntim, Zac (August 30, 2024). "Pablo Larraín & Angelina Jolie's 'Maria' Sells Worldwide Following Buzzy Venice Debut". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  13. ^ Davis, Clayton (September 23, 2024). "Angelina Jolie's Oscar Vehicle 'Maria' Gets Release Date by Netflix (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  14. ^ DiLillo, John (September 24, 2024). "Angelina Jolie Is Coming to Netflix as Maria Callas". Netflix. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  15. ^ 01 Distribution (September 30, 2024). MARIA di Pablo Larraín (2025) - Teaser Trailer Ufficiale HD. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ StudioCanal (September 26, 2024). MARIA | Official Teaser | STUDIOCANAL. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ "Maria". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 2, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  18. ^ "Maria". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  19. ^ Setoodeh, Ramin; Ritman, Alex (August 29, 2024). "Angelina Jolie Weeps Through Rapturous 8-Minute Venice Standing Ovation for 'Maria,' Launching Oscar Buzz". Variety. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  20. ^ Rosenbloom, Alli (August 29, 2024). "Angelina Jolie moved to tears during 'Maria' standing ovation at Venice Film Festival". CNN. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  21. ^ Gardner, Chris (August 27, 2024). "From Brangelina to Joaquin Phoenix: The Venice Red Carpet Will Be Filled With A-Listers and Intrigue". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  22. ^ Bergeson, Samantha (September 26, 2024). "Middleburg 2024 Honoree Lineup: Danielle Deadwyler, Colman Domingo, and Ed Lachman". IndieWire. Archived from the original on October 20, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  23. ^ "The Critics Choice Association Announces Full Slate of Honorees for the 4th Annual Celebration of Latino Cinema & Television – Critics Choice Awards". Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  24. ^ https://www.scad.edu/about/news-press-and-recognition/2024-10-04-scad-savannah-film-festival-announces-additional
  25. ^ "Angelina Jolie to Receive 2024 Gothams Performer Tribute for Maria". The Gotham. October 31, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  26. ^ Dunn, Jack (October 16, 2024). "Angelina Jolie to Be Honored With the Maltin Modern Master Award at the 2025 Santa Barbara International Film Festival". Variety. Archived from the original on October 20, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
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