The plot is driven by Callas (played by Angelina Jolie) talking to an imaginary film crew, the hallucinations supposedly caused by all the pills she is taking. We see flashbacks to her former glory days, and there’s a big emphasis on her relationship with the business magnate Aristotle Onassis — yes, the same Onassis who married Jackie Kennedy.

The film is full of witty dialogue and if you love watching Emily in Paris for beautiful shots of Paris and even more beautiful outfits, then you’ll love this.

Is Maria based on a true story?

Maria is based on the true story of Greek-American opera singer Maria Callas. It depicts the tragedy of the singer’s final days, with flashbacks to the highs of her life, such as stealing the show as a last-minute replacement for another singer in Venice in 1949.

The film’s director, Pablo Larraín, describes it as a “creative imagining and psychological portrait of Maria Callas.”

Who stars in Maria?

Angelina Jolie takes the lead in this film, playing the title role of Maria Callas. In the scenes where the opera star is singing, it really is Jolie’s voice, although they have mixed it with the real voice of Callas. It’s Jolie’s first film in three years, and she’s been tipped to win her second Oscar after an eight-minute standing ovation at the film’s debut in Venice.

Maria also stars Pierfrancesco Favino as Callas’ butler, who critics have said is the film’s “most touching character”. Favino is an Italian actor who has appeared in both Italian and American films, including Night at the Museum, The Chronicles of Narnia, and World War Z.

Callas’ housekeeper is played by Alba Rohrwacher, an Italian actress who has mostly starred in Italian films. Where the plot is led by Callas talking to an imaginary documentary interviewer, this part is played by Kodi Smit-McPhee. Smit-McPhee is an Australian actor who played Nightcrawler in X-Men: Apocalypse in 2016 and was the star of the 2021 film The Power of the Dog.

Is there a trailer for Maria?

There isn’t an official trailer yet, but now that the film has made its world debut, we expect that a trailer will be available soon.

When will Maria be released in the UK?

Maria had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on 29 August 2024. It is expected to be released in the UK at a later date, so make sure you keep your eye out for updates.