Pablo Larraín’s, Maria, starring Angelina Jolie as the legendary opera singer Maria Callas, received an electrifying eight-minute standing ovation at its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, moving Jolie to tears.
Earlier in the week, Netflix announced it had acquired the film’s distribution rights. Larraín described *Maria* as his most personal work, a creative exploration of Callas finding her own voice after a lifetime of performing for others.
At a press conference, Jolie shared that she spent seven months preparing for the role, including training with opera experts. She described the process as emotionally therapeutic, allowing her to connect deeply with Callas’ vulnerability, which she also feels in her own life.
*Maria,* based on true events, follows the final days of Callas in 1970s Paris. The film, written by Steven Knight, features a cast including Pierfrancesco Favino and Alba Rohrwacher. Jolie’s appearance in Venice is part of a broader Hollywood return to the festival, alongside stars like Brad Pitt and George Clooney.
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