Maria by Callas

2017 documentary

Maria by Callas

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Tom Volf
Written by| Tom Volf[1]
Produced by|

* Emmanuelle Lepers[1]
* Gaël Leblang[1]
* Emmanuel Chain[1]
* Thierry Bizot[1]
* Tom Volf[1]

Starring|

* Maria Callas
* Joyce DiDonato[1]

Edited by| Janice Jones[1]
Distributed by| Haut et Court [fr]

Release dates

* November 1, 2017 (2017-11-01) (Rome Film Festival)
* December 13, 2017 (2017-12-13) (France)

Running time

| 113 minutes
Country| France
Languages| English, French, Italian
Box office| $1.3 million[2]

Maria by Callas is a 2017 French documentary film about the life and career of opera singer Maria Callas, written and directed by Tom Volf.[3]

## Synopsis

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The film depicts the life and work of opera singer Maria Callas in her own words by using her interviews, letters, and performances to tell her story.[4] Told through performances, TV interviews, home movies, family photographs, private letters and unpublished memoirs—nearly all of which have never been shown to the public—the film reveals the essence of an extraordinary woman who rose from humble beginnings in New York City to become a glamorous international superstar and one of the greatest artists of all time. Opera singer Joyce DiDonato reads her letters and unpublished memoirs; Fanny Ardant narrates in the French version.[5]

## Release

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Maria by Callas premiered at the Rome Film Festival and at the La Baule Film & Score Festival in November 2017.[6][1] The film had a release in France on December 13, 2017. The film had a limited release in the United States on November 2, 2018. It was shown on BBC Four on Christmas Day 2020.[7]

## Critical reception

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The film has earned high critical praise.[8][9][10] Maria by Callas currently has a score of 92% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes from 73 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Maria by Callas offers an intimate look at the life of a brilliantly talented artist whose absorbing story matches the operatic heights reached by her work.[11]

Based on the film, the one-woman-show Maria Callas: Letters & Memoirs starring Monica Bellucci was shown at the Beacon Theatre in New York on 27 January 2023.[12][13]

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Maria by Callas, press kit, p. 16, Sony Pictures Classic
2. ^ "Maria by Callas". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
3. ^ Jane Clayson; Tom Volf; Gregor Benko (December 11, 2018). "Maria By Callas: The Legendary Opera Singer's Life In Her Own Words" (50-minute interview). WBUR. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
4. ^ Christopher Purdy (December 14, 2018). "Maria by Callas Documentary Tells Soprano's Story in Her Own Words". WOSA. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
5. ^ "Maria by Callas " by Monica Castillo, 2 November 2018, RogerEbert.com
6. ^ "Maria by Callas Director Says Film Objectively Depicts Opera Singer" by Ariston Anderson, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 November 2017
7. ^ "Maria by Callas". BBC Four.
8. ^ Ben Kenigsberg (November 1, 2018). "Review: Demystifying a Diva in Maria by Callas". The New York Times. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
9. ^ Dave White (November 2, 2018). "Maria by Callas Film Review: Opera Legend Maria Callas' Life, Told in Her Own Words". TheWrap. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
10. ^ Mick LaSalle (November 8, 2018). "New Maria Callas documentary is a treat for opera diva's devotees". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
11. ^ "Maria by Callas (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
12. ^ Pingitore, Silvia (January 15, 2023). "Exclusive interview with Monica Bellucci". the-shortlisted.co.uk. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
13. ^ Elizabeth Vincentelli (January 25, 2023). "Monica Bellucci Tries on the Dress, and Life, of Maria Callas". The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2024.

## External links

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* Official website
* Maria by Callas at IMDb
* Maria by Callas at Rotten Tomatoes
* Maria by Callas at Box Office Mojo