The year is coming to a close, which means you’re likely busy either preparing the festive menu, shopping for gifts, decorating the house, or reflecting on the year that passed. For all these pre-New Year tasks, a slow-paced movie that you can watch while getting ready for the celebration is just perfect. For this, we’ve chosen the film “Maria,” and here’s why.

Firstly, Angelina Jolie plays the lead role. Yes, her controversial image still captivates audiences in cinema.

Secondly, the plot of the film centers around the famous opera singer Maria Callas, which promises refinement and atmosphere.

Thirdly, the first two points complement each other beautifully. Jolie’s persona is perfect for films where one needs to play an aristocratic lady or a famous diva. The combination of the theme and the actress is wonderfully chosen.

As for the plot, the film is about the final days of Maria’s life, during which the audience is supposed to understand how her past influenced her. However, unfortunately, the past of the world-renowned singer is barely explored in the film. It might be assumed that the filmmakers relied on the fact that the audience already knows who Maria is, but then why make a biographical drama about her?

When it comes to Jolie’s performance, it’s hard to criticize, as the actress effectively portrays the disappointment and emptiness of a woman who has lost the only meaning of her life—music. At the same time, the character’s personality is only revealed in a superficial manner, as the key events of her life are merely touched upon in the film.

Despite the film being advertised as a biographical drama, it actually focuses more on the emotional backdrop of the character. Traditionally, in such films, the audience learns the entire life and career story of the character, but “Maria” departs from this canon, focusing not on the singer’s life path but on her feelings and emotions after what she has endured.

This approach makes the film more of a festival piece rather than a mainstream one, because after watching it, you don’t learn much about Callas’ life, but you do get to immerse yourself in her emotions as a person trying to hold on to the remnants of a past that has already slipped away. This theme is perfect for a pre-New Year viewing, as before starting anew, one must leave the old behind. And through how gracefully Jolie plays Maria, it might even help you prepare for the new year.