This fictionalised biopic chronicles the final years of opera meta-diva Maria Callas (Fanny Ardant), filling in the blank spots with a what if scenario. It's the late 1970s and Callas, once the greatest singer in opera, has lost her voice, been thrown over by Aristotle Onassis in favour of Jackie Kennedy, and now stomps around .. Read more
| Starring | Jeremy Irons, Fanny Ardant, Joan Plowright, Jay Rodan |
|---|---|
| Director | Franco Zeffirelli |
| Genres | Drama, Gay/Lesbian |
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This fictionalised biopic chronicles the final years of opera meta-diva Maria Callas (Fanny Ardant), filling in the blank spots with a what if scenario. It's the late 1970s and Callas, once the greatest singer in opera, has lost her voice, been thrown over by Aristotle Onassis in favour of Jackie Kennedy, and now stomps around her apartment in a haze of pills and regret. But just when it seems all hope is lost, her former manager Larry (Jeremy Irons) hits on the plan to do an opera film of CARMEN, with Callas lip-synching her younger voice in the lead, thus preserving her stage presence for future generations. The trouble is that once Callas gets back in the limelight, her over-the-top artistic temperament threatens to destroy the entire project. What's more, Larry's gay lover (Jay Rodan) is throwing tantrums of his own. Fanny Ardant is incredible as the tortured, egotistical diva and Joan Plowright lends some welcome warmth and wit as the British reporter who sets the plot in motion. As with many a Zeffirelli film, the cast is packed with beautiful people and the photography is elegant. The passages from CARMEN are a real highlight, with actual recordings from Callas on the soundtrack. An opera director as well as a film director, Zeffirelli was friends with Callas for over 20 years and once tried to talk her into just such a project, so this is obviously a true labour of love.
| Starring | Jeremy Irons, Fanny Ardant, Joan Plowright, Jay Rodan, Gabriel Garko, JUSTINO DIAZ, Manuel De Blas |
|---|---|
| Director | Franco Zeffirelli |
| Studio | ENJOY |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 44 mins |
| Certificate |  |
| Genres | Drama, Gay/Lesbian |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Dubbed | None |
| Hearing-impaired | None |
| Subtitles | DVD: None |
| Released | Production year: 2002 To Rent: DVD: not available |
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Interesting snap-shot of Callas later years
A strong performance from Fanny Ardant makes this a watchable and engaging film. Ardant is a mesmerizing screen presence and she portrays Callas' diva ... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
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Callas is forever can't same the same about the movie
It's like a made for TV drama. The acting is good, but the story is very contrived - I didn't realise it wasn't true until afterwards. But it did ... read more »
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Fanny Ardant scores
I enjoyed this. Good performance by Fanny Ardant - lovely music!
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Signor Zeffirelli regrets
You would think that Maria Callas' life, of all people, would have had enough detail for any number of biopics, so if her old friend... read more »
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