IFFR Preview

Continuing his investigation on the women that marked the 20th century, Pablo Larraín embarks on a journey with Angelina Jolie, bringing the tormented last days of Maria Callas to the silver screen. We meet Callas, the singer and actress whose voice and face has shaped our 21st century ideas of stardom, during her retired days, on her quest to reconquer her voice. Cared for in a golden cage by her cook and butler, majestically interpreted by Alba Rohrwacher and Pierfrancesco Favino, Maria spends her days prisoner to the twilight between past and present, hallucinations and memories.

Larraín and Jolie evoke the greatest moment of Callas’ bigger than life existence, from the hardships of WWII to the height of her fame when she became the icon that we still celebrate today. Yet, even in Maria’s most lavish and glamorous moments, the true celebration is her resilience, intelligence and her ability as an artist to rise above a world of predation and greed.

Ultimately, Jolie inhabits Callas with such an intense passion that the result is more than a portrait: it is a conversation between two timeless artists.

IFFR Preview

Before the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), enjoy the pre-premiere of one of the top titles of 2025. From 5 to 9 February, you can see the best new films during the IFFR in Forum Groningen.