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+--- Thread: Maria by Callas (2017) (/showthread.php?tid=5380)
Maria by Callas (2017) - Drunk Monk - 04-11-2020
This is a documentary on opera diva Maria Callas. It's well done. The documenters know enough to showcase Maria's performances - letting them play out in their entirety with restored audio. These are stitched together with interview footage, lots of footage of Maria getting in and out of vehicles - cars, planes, boats - and a narrater (another opera singer) reading from Maria's own correspondances and writings. She was amazing, Maria Callas, a brilliant voice and she makes it look so effortless. She was gorgeous too, huge soulful eyes, a long singer's nose, well spoken in several languages. What a treasure. And her life was fascinating, how she grappled with her celebrity, her affair with Aristotle Onasis - very tastefully played out when it came to Jackie, who is shown but never named - everyone knows. Very enjoyable, especially her performance of the piece from Carmen.
I thought this was a biopic. I'm more satisfied because it was a doc. We recognized many locations we visited in Europe - Stacy recognized more. Mind you, while I respect and enjoy opera, I really don't know it well beyond Wagner (and the Ring cycle takes days but I used to have it all on vinyl). I didn't really know Callas prior to watching this.
No sword fights but some sword brandishing (it is opera). Recommended for DOOMers that appreciate opera.