Everything Angelina Jolie’s “Maria” Gets Wrong About Maria Callas

0
angelina jolie maria

Everything Angelina Jolie’s Maria Gets Wrong About Maria Callas

The highly anticipated biopic Maria, starring Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas, has already stirred controversy even before its release.

With claims of inaccuracy and misrepresentation, the film has raised eyebrows among fans and historians alike. One such critic is Sophia Lambton, author of The Callas Imprint: A Centennial Biography, who provides a detailed breakdown of everything the movie gets wrong about the opera legend.

Callas Was Not a “Diva”

Angelina Jolie - Maria

One of the most glaring inaccuracies in the film is its portrayal of Callas as a difficult and temperamental diva. Lambton vehemently disputes this characterization, saying, “Callas was adorable. She would reply to fan mail wishing a schoolboy good luck in his exams and send out letters of recommendation for colleagues. Maria Callas was a team player.”

Contrary to the film’s depiction, Callas was known for her work ethic and kindness. She frequently attended rehearsals, including orchestral ones, and even mapped out stages to navigate without her glasses. Lambton adds, “A diva is someone who makes life harder for others for the sake of her own luxury. She made life harder for herself.”

The “Grotesque” Misrepresentation of Callas

Angelina Jolie Maria

The film takes artistic liberties that Lambton finds deeply troubling. In one instance, the fictionalized Callas demands a “hairdresser who doesn’t speak,” a claim Lambton debunks outright. “My book alone cites her chatting gladly with two hairdressers. To one, she gave a silver cross she had received from the President of Nigeria. She loved discussing music with them,” Lambton explains.

Another misleading scene depicts Callas burning her costumes as a symbolic farewell to her career. However, Lambton clarifies, “In real life, Callas burned some costumes to signify her rebirth as a new singer. It was never about parting with her career.”

Misconceptions About Callas’ Relationships

Angelina Jolie Maria Callas biopic

The movie also skews the narrative of Callas’ relationship with Aristotle Onassis, portraying her as his victim. Lambton provides a more nuanced view, stating, “Callas and Onassis’s relationship was actually pretty boring. She dumped him in 1968 before he married Jacqueline Kennedy.”

Lambton emphasizes that Callas was far from a passive participant in her relationships. She was fiercely independent and focused on her art, often to the detriment of her personal life.

False Claims About Callas’ Health and Habits

maria callas biopic

In the biopic, Callas is depicted as unhealthily thin and battling substance abuse, which Lambton categorically denies. “She never cursed, never had a substance abuse disorder, and was not unhealthily thin during her later years,” she states.

Such portrayals, according to Lambton, do a disservice to Callas’ legacy and feed into the myth of her as a tragic figure rather than a dedicated artist.

Callas’ True Legacy

For Lambton, the inaccuracies in Maria undermine the essence of who Maria Callas truly was: a perfectionist and a visionary. “She loved her music and characters more strongly than her peers. Instinctively, the audience can feel that,” she reflects.

Lambton hopes that her biography can counteract the misinformation spread by the film, offering readers a relatable and accurate portrait of the opera legend. “Relatability. That’s what I want people to take away,” she concludes.

The Call for Authentic Biographies

As Hollywood continues to churn out biopics, Lambton believes filmmakers must prioritize authenticity. “Real life is messy and impossible to remember in its entirety. But filmmakers have a duty to preserve the dignity of historical figures,” she argues.

Ultimately, Lambton asserts that no fictionalized portrayal can capture the full depth of Maria Callas. “When a performing artist has already been captured on film, it can only be a disservice to try to recreate them,” she says.

Maria may draw in audiences with Angelina Jolie’s star power, but for those seeking the true story of Maria Callas, Sophia Lambton’s The Callas Imprint is an essential read.

 

Jamie Wells

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here