Sony Classics has acquired Maria Callas In Her Own Words, Tom Volf’s documentary about the iconic Greek-American opera singer, for distribution in North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Insightful and revelatory, Volf’s chronicle of the legendary singer, considered by many the most famous and most accomplished opera singer of the 20th century, is the most comprehensive and detailed portrait I have seen.
The docu, which I viewed at a morning screening, is a highlight of the 2017 Roma Film Festival, and for me, for many different (and utterly subjective) reasons, the most satisfying and enjoyable feature I saw all week.
Full frontal: as a student at Columbia, I attended one of Callas’ last performances, at a packed, sold-out event at Carnegie Hall during an unsuccessful comeback tour in the late 1970s.
Volf spent nearly five years assembling an intimate portrait of the late opera legend illustrated by exclusive footage, photographs, Callas’ own Super 8 films, private live recordings, letters, and rare behind-the scenes archival footage.
“Maria Callas, her voice and story are illustrious. We’re thrilled to be able to help expand this icon’s prodigious following with ‘Maria By Callas In Her Own Words,’” said Sony Pictures Classics.
“Maria by Callas” was co-produced by Emma Lepers of Petit Dragon and Gaël Leiblang and Emmanuel Chain of Elephant Doc.
A long review will follow.