Biographical films frequently fall short of capturing the nuanced essence of their real-life subjects, yet Maria stands out by accurately portraying many facets of Maria Callas’ remarkable life. That said, the film does take creative liberties, as it’s challenging for biopics to achieve flawless accuracy. Life is often messy and not easily condensed into a compelling narrative structure typically favored by cinema. Still, critics widely view Maria as a thoughtful representation that strives to honor Callas’ legacy to the best extent possible.
Anticipation is building for Angelina Jolie‘s potential Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of Callas in Maria. The 2025 Academy Awards nominations will be revealed on January 17, 2025, with the ceremony scheduled for March 2, 2025, according to predictions from Variety.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, the 2024 Netflix film Maria delves into the poignant final days of Callas, a celebrated opera singer whose influence permeated the 20th century. Known for her formidable talent and dramatic life filled with challenges and inspiration, Callas provides rich material for Larraín’s narrative. The film captures her nostalgia as she contemplates her life and the profound significance of her music. However, the director tends to exaggerate and fabricate elements for dramatic effect.
8 The Impact of Callas’ Weight Loss on Her Voice
The Film Suggests a Link Between Her Voice Loss and Health Problems
A central theme in Maria revolves around Callas’ battles with her declining vocal abilities. Throughout her career, her voice was her most treasured asset, and losing it was devastating. Historically, Callas began experiencing vocal deterioration in the mid-1950s, coinciding with significant weight loss of approximately 80 pounds. Many speculate this weight loss contributed to the decline, a narrative absent from the 2024 film. Some argue that a more profound underlying health condition, or the demands of her early career, could have played a part.
In the film, Callas’ struggle is framed within the context of her deteriorating health, with several doctors recommending she cease singing to prevent further harm. However, the film prioritizes the emotional impacts of her lost voice over a detailed investigation into its causes. The narrative emphasizes how her inability to perform affected her mental state and emotional well-being. According to Decider, screenwriter Steven Knight elaborated on Callas’ pursuit to reclaim her voice:
“Pablo [Larraín] and I picked up on the true fact that shortly before she died, she was in the process of trying to rebuild her voice but without any real intention of performing for other people. Perhaps she wanted to die whole, in one piece, her self and her voice reunited.”
7 Fictionalizing the Conversation with JFK
Callas Attends JFK’s Birthday Celebration in 1962
In Maria, Callas and her partner, Aristotle Onassis, attend President John F. Kennedy’s birthday party in 1962, enjoying the iconic performance from Marilyn Monroe. While Callas was indeed present and even performed, reports suggest that her interaction with JFK was brief, contradicting the film’s portrayal wherein the two share an in-depth conversation at a restaurant. The dialogue they share touches on their unique experiences and romantic partners, hinting at the later marriage of Jackie Kennedy to Onassis after JFK’s assassination. This dialogue, while intriguing, is entirely speculative.
6 Persisting Rumors of Callas and Onassis’ Relationship Post-Marriage
Onassis Left Callas for Jackie Kennedy
The relationship between Callas and Aristotle Onassis is well-explored in Maria, yet the film eschews addressing the speculation that their affair continued even after he married Jackie Kennedy in 1968. Although unverified, several sources close to both have claimed that Callas’ feelings for Onassis endured throughout his subsequent marriage. According to PEOPLE, Onassis’ secretary suggested he was incapable of living without Callas.
The film illustrates their tumultuous and passionate love—highlighted during a poignant scene when Callas visits Onassis on his deathbed. Their complicated relationship is marked by desires for family that remained unfulfilled, as Callas suffered multiple miscarriages during their time together.
5 Unverified Claims of Callas’ Drug Use
Callas’ Substance Use is Under Scrutiny
A significant theme in Maria is the representation of Callas’ alleged substance abuse, particularly with Methaqualone (known as Mandrax). Despite this portrayal, sources indicate no substantial public evidence supports that Callas engaged in such drug use prior to her death. Although records confirm she was on cortisone and immunosuppressants due to a degenerative illness in the mid-1970s, details around Mandrax use remain murky.
While it is acknowledged that Callas faced issues with addiction later in her life, the filmmakers opted to highlight her alleged struggles with Mandrax to add drama to her character arc.
4 Mandrax: A Fictional Creation for Maria
The Filmmaker Represents a Hallucination
One of the more prominent fictional elements in Maria is the character of Mandrax, portrayed by Kodi Smit-McPhee. In the film, Mandrax is a documentary filmmaker who interacts extensively with Callas, drawing her to reflect on her past. Despite being based on a real drug, the character is entirely fabricated and serves to facilitate narrative exploration as Callas recalls pivotal moments in her life.
|
Maria Cast |
Role |
|---|---|
|
Angelina Jolie |
Maria Callas |
|
Pierfrancesco Favino |
Ferruccio |
|
Dawn Rohrwacher |
Bruna |
|
Haluk Bilginer |
Aristotle Onassis |
|
Cody Smith-McPhee |
Mandrax |
|
Valeria Golino |
Yakinthi Calls |
|
Alessandro Bressanello |
John Baptist Meneghini |
|
Caspar Phillipson |
John F. Kennedy |
|
Aggelina Papadopoulou |
Young Maria Callas |
The presence of Mandrax allows viewers to delve deeper into Callas’ story as the fictional character prompts reflective flashbacks. However, it is important to recognize this creative choice as a dramatization rather than a factual account.
3 Fictional Hallucinations within the Film
The Portrayal of Hallucinations is Fabricated
Maria Callas’ hallucinations play a crucial role in indicating her deteriorating health. Still, there are no substantial records suggesting that Callas experienced hallucinations before her passing on September 16, 1977. Her drug use could have contributed to such experiences, yet the film’s dramatic representation lacks a basis in reality.
In crafting a narrative that provides depth to Callas’ journey, the filmmakers had to deviate from actual events. The creation of hallucinations involving an entire documentary crew serves to add a layer of drama to the storyline and enhance viewer engagement.
2 How Callas’ Death Scene is Dramatized
Speculation Surrounding Her Last Performance
The film concludes with Callas’ tragic death; however, this scene is largely speculative. Jolie’s portrayal involves her walking through her apartment, vocalizing what could be considered her final song. This moment is heightened by hallucinations of an orchestra, Onassis, and Mandrax. Outside, witnesses including her attendants pause to listen before she ultimately collapses.
Maria represents the culmination of Larraín’s trilogy focusing on influential women, following Jackie and Spencer. It invites the audience to ponder Callas’ complex life, yet it raises questions about the blurred line between artistic license and factual representation, particularly concerning her last moments. In reality, Callas was found deceased alone in her apartment, without any corroborated final performance observed by onlookers.
1 The Real Circumstances of Callas’ Death
Callas Officially Died from Heart Failure
The final scene of Maria implies that Maria Callas succumbed to heart failure, which aligns with her official cause of death. On September 16, 1977, she died in her Paris apartment from a heart attack, although the factors contributing to this heart issue have been debated over the years.
Some speculate that Callas’ substance abuse played a role in her demise—a theme echoed in the film—while others attribute her death to stress or underlying health problems, such as dermatomyositis. Despite varying opinions on the causes, the film captures the essence of Callas’ tragic end while providing a compelling narrative to her legacy.
Sources: Variety, Decider, PEOPLE
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