S Poddar
Angelina Jolie stole the heart of all people at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where she attended the premiere of her recently released film, Maria. She played the tough role of Maria Callas, an opera singer, in this biopic-a role which has gained considerable attention even before the release of this movie.
49-year-old Jolie has, of course, long been hailed for her unassailable sense of style, but this red carpet appearance was something else. She draped herself in a chiffon gown by Tamara Ralph, finished with a faux fur stole, a picture of old-school Hollywood glamour. But if there was one thing that set her apart, it had to be the historic pieces of jewelry she wore to complete her look-items once owned by Callas herself.
Among them was a 1972 Rose Ouvrante brooch-an exquisite creation which Jolie also wears in the movie to give authenticity to her portrayal. Meanwhile, she also bedecked herself with a 1971 Panthère brooch from the Collection Cartier-a jewel in its time to have adorned the iconic singer.
Maria was received very well upon its premiere; the standing ovation that lasted eight minutes moved Jolie to tears. That spoke a lot about her preparedness and commitment to playing Callas, which was months in the making. During the press conference, Jolie was saying that almost seven months were spent in Callas’ life and breathing her essence-which in itself showed how serious she is with commitment to bringing the opera star’s story into life.
Jolie’s presence at the Venice Film Festival is also poignant in her personal life. While continuing the highly publicized divorce proceedings with ex-husband Brad Pitt, she has never shown any wavering of focus when it came to her work. In such a performance in Maria and the homage paid to Callas through her choice of jewelry, not only professionalism but such deep respect is mirrored toward the legacy of the woman she plays.
The analogy of Maria Callas should be one of the many high points in this continuous festival, since critics and fans alike await how Jolie has captured onscreen the spirit of this opera legend. With her being fully committed to the role and the mindful nod toward Callas’ personal history, Angelina Jolie once more proves to be a force in the world of cinema.
