Angelina Jolie weeps through rapturous 8-minute standing ovation for ‘Maria’ at Venice Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival loves its movie stars, and Angelina Jolie was the toast of Italy on Thursday night.
The Venice Film Festival loves its movie stars, and Angelina Jolie was the toast of Italy on Thursday night. The actress wept during an eight-minute standing ovation at the Sala Grande Theatre at the world premiere of “Maria,” Pablo Larraín’s biographical drama about the Greek opera singer Maria Callas.
The outpouring of love and emotion brings to mind another standing ovation in Venice that launched the Oscar campaign for Brendan Fraser in “The Whale,” as he sobbed through the applause that cemented a career comeback in 2022.
Jolie was similarly taken by the rapturous response, wiping away tears and at time turning her face away from the cheering as she was overcome by emotion. She hugged Larraín and the cast of the film, which is sure to be an Oscar contender, putting Jolie in the best actress race for the first time in 15 years. (She was nominated in 2009, for her her work in Clint Eastwood’s “The Changeling,” and won an Oscar for best supporting actress in 2000 for “Girl, Interrupted.”)
Netflix will release “Maria” later this year.
In Venice, the fandom for Jolie started a full 24 hours before the screening of “Maria.” A group of Italians camped out overnight on Wednesday with tents and umbrellas, enduring 90 degree temperatures for a front-row interaction with their idol at the carpet.
Rating: 5