The Venice Film Festival this year is packed with big names. It’s no surprise that Angelina Jolie’s casting as Maria Callas in the film Maria garnered significant attention at the festival. This marks Jolie’s first major role in nearly five years, during which she focused on her health and divorce from Brad Pitt. Jolie admitted to feeling immense anxiety before starting filming, as she had no prior connection to opera and had never sung—not even karaoke. She spent seven months learning to sing and delving into the art of opera.Opinions from professionals about the film are mixed: some are glad that the story of the opera diva will reach audiences who may have never heard of her, while others sigh that director Pablo Larraín, despite having all the ingredients for a great film, seems to have fallen short once again.

Pablo Larraín, a Chilean filmmaker known to Venice Film Festival audiences, has established himself as a creator who seems to have everything needed to produce a masterpiece, yet hasn’t quite succeeded. His recent films are highly recognizable, as he’s crafted a series of biographical films about famous women, forming what he refers to as the “trilogy of tragic women.” Larraín is rightfully praised for his visual elegance but is increasingly criticized for the limited depth with which he portrays his protagonists.

Larraín is fascinated by iconic historical women with controversial and tragic fates. The first film in his trilogy was Jackie (2016), which chronicled the life of Jacqueline Kennedy with Natalie Portman in the lead role. The second, Spencer(2021), was a biographical drama about Princess Diana, starring Kristen Stewart. Finally, at the 81st Venice Film Festival, he unveiled the last installment of the trilogy, Maria, a biographical drama about renowned opera singer Maria Callas, portrayed by Angelina Jolie.

The film focuses on a specific period in Callas’s life: the 1970s in Paris, when she decided to end her career. She struggles to return to the stage, haunted by a traumatic past. Callas battles an addiction to medication and is tormented by hallucinations. Alongside vivid dreams and emotional breakdowns, the film features an important narrative device: her interviews with a young journalist, which take viewers back to her past through black-and-white visuals.

Overall, Maria suffers from overly literal scenes and excessive explanation, failing to provide a fresh perspective on Callas’s character. The film emphasizes her aesthetic elegance but doesn’t sufficiently delve into her profound inner world. However, these flaws in the script are often saved by the exceptional actresses Larraín casts in his lead roles.

At a press conference, Jolie admitted to being very nervous before filming. She revealed that she had never been interested in opera and had no singing experience—not even karaoke. She spent about seven months immersing herself in opera as an art form and training her voice. The film uses a layered soundtrack that blends Callas’s voice with Jolie’s. Jolie shared, “When working with Pablo, you can’t do anything halfway—he’s a very demanding director.” She also had to work intensively on language, gestures, and appearance to embody the role of the Greek diva. When asked how much she relates to Callas’s personality, Jolie cautiously stated that she shares only Callas’s “vulnerability and nothing more.”

Visually, Jolie is undoubtedly unmatched in embodying iconic elegance. Her portrayal, enhanced by the outstanding work of designers and costume artists, compensates for the weaknesses of the script. Jolie portrays a strikingly glamorous, slender woman with voluminous curls and stunning outfits. At home, Maria wears silk robes, letting her curls fall naturally, while in public, she dons textured coats in autumnal hues reminiscent of Paris’s fall leaves, her eyes hidden behind wide-frame sunglasses. While Larraín may have run out of ideas for tragic biographical films about women, Jolie’s performance stands out as a success, signaling a revival in her career.

Reflecting on the film, Jolie shared an insightful thought about her perspective on Maria Callas: “I wish she were here today to hear all the kind words about her because after her final performance, critics were so harsh, comparing her to the Callas of the past. I don’t know if Maria died knowing how talented and cherished she was by society. I think she left this world feeling deeply lonely and in pain.”