Maria

What it’s about

In September 1977, Maria Callas lives in a luxurious Paris apartment with two poodles, a cook, and a butler. The cook flatters her, while the butler moves a grand piano around, counts her pills, and tries to get her to talk to a specialist instead of her hallucinations. She confronts her identity and life as her career has ended.

What hooks you

Director Pablo Larraín insisted on Angelina Jolie for the role, refusing to make the film without her. Jolie took opera singing lessons for seven months because she did not want someone else to sing for her. The film received an Oscar nomination for best cinematography and a Golden Globe nomination for Jolie's performance.

Who it’s for

It is worth a look for anyone who enjoys intimate character studies of real-life figures, especially those interested in opera, 1970s Paris, or the price of fame. It will appeal to those who like dramas that blend reality with surreal elements.