• Friday, February 14, 2025

Entertainment

Angelina Jolie returns as Maria Callas in Venice film fest

Maria marks the conclusion of Larrain’s trilogy about iconic women, following his previous works “Spencer” and “Jackie”

 

Angelina Jolie poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the screening of the movie “Maria”, in competition, at the 81st Venice Film Festival, Venice, Italy, August 29, 2024. (REUTERS/Yara Nardi)

By: India Weekly

ANGELINA JOLIE made her return to the screen at the Venice Film Festival, portraying the renowned opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larrain’s biopic “Maria.”

This film marks the conclusion of Larrain’s trilogy about iconic women, following his previous works “Spencer” and “Jackie.”

Angelina Jolie, who has been absent from the screen since 2021, takes on the role of Callas, known for her dramatic stage presence and tumultuous personal life.

“Maria,” one of 21 films competing for the Golden Lion prize at the festival, focuses on Callas’s final years in Paris during the 1970s, reflecting on her career and life before her death at 53 from a heart attack.

Larrain emphasized the importance of casting someone with the natural presence of a diva, stating, “This is the greatest diva of the 20th century, and who could play that? Angelina was there.”

Jolie reportedly spent six months preparing for the role, working to replicate Callas’s voice as the film integrates her own vocals with those of the soprano. Larrain described the challenge, noting, “This is the real thing — it was very scary for her, but she did it.”

Jolie’s appearance at the festival also draws attention due to the ongoing media interest in her personal life, echoing the public’s fascination with Callas’s own love affairs, including her relationship with Aristotle Onassis.

The film premieres on the festival’s second day, while Brad Pitt’s movie “Wolfs,” in which he stars alongside George Clooney, is scheduled for later in the event to avoid a potential encounter.

Related Stories