Angelina Jolie Moved to Tears by Venice Audience Reaction to ‘Maria’

There is a point in the film “Maria” when the legendary opera singer Maria Callas expresses a desire to return to one magical night at the Venice Film Festival in 1949. After the August 29 premiere of Pablo Larraín’s new film at the same festival, star Angelina Jolie will have her own cherished memory to look back on.

Recently acquired by Netflix for U.S. distribution, ensuring an Oscar campaign, the film portrays Callas’s final days as she reflects on her life and attempts to reclaim her extraordinary voice. The movie concluded with roaring applause and cries of “brava” from the audience in Sala Grande, continuing long after the credits had finished.

The overwhelming adulation led to an emotional moment for Jolie and the filmmakers, with several team members tearing up and embracing each other. The film’s screenwriter, Steven Knight, visibly moved, pushed through the crowd to hug Jolie. Co-stars Pierfrancesco Favino and Alba Rohrwacher joined Jolie in soaking up the applause until Larraín eventually guided the actress down the theater stairs to thank those in the orchestra seats personally.

Numerous films are still set to premiere at the festival, with lead actresses already generating Oscar buzz, including Nicole Kidman in “Babygirl” and Lady Gaga in “Joker: Folie à Deux.” However, for the moment, Jolie has emerged as a frontrunner for the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, a title often indicative of an Academy Award nomination.

Should Jolie win this prestigious award, she would become the first leading lady from Larraín’s trilogy of historical portraits to do so. Previously, Larraín’s “Jackie” won the Golden Osella for Best Original Screenplay in 2016, and “Spencer” left Venice without any awards in 2021.

Earlier on the day of the festival, Jolie spoke at a press conference for “Maria” about her significant return to the screen after several years. “I’ve needed to be home more with my family in these last years,” she said, adding, “In that time, I’ve become more grateful to just be an artist, and play.” Addressing the cast and crew, she expressed her gratitude for being part of the artistic community, stating, “among all you in this creative world that we are all fortunate to be part of. I am grateful to be an artist in any way.”