Callas Forever

As the calendar flips to 1977, the once- luminous star of opera, Maria Callas (Fanny Ardant), finds herself shrouded in a veil of isolation, haunted by the lingering echoes of a career that had long since reached its zenith. Her dear friend and music maestro Larry Kelly (Jeremy Irons) materializes on the Parisian scene, peddling his wares to the punk rock faithful. However, this chance encounter is not a social call; Kelly has an ulterior motive for seeking out Callas, one that has been simmering in the depths of his mind like a perfectly pitched opera aria.

The lingering shadows of their shared past prove difficult to overcome, as Callas's ire still simmers from a disastrous Japanese tour orchestrated by Kelly himself. Yet, it is only through a determined display of persuasion that he finally gains entrance into her reclusive world. As they reconnect, Kelly reveals his true intention: a cinematic homage to Callas's storied career, one that would showcase her most iconic roles in the medium of film. Initially, Callas is skeptical, convinced that her voice has lost its luster and that she cannot bring anything new or innovative to performances she has rendered countless times on stage.

It is only with the promise of a fresh creative challenge that Callas agrees to participate in a film adaptation of Bizet's Carmen, an opera role she had never previously had the opportunity to perform live. With Kelly by her side, as well as the guidance of journalist and long-time friend Sarah Keller (Joan Plowright), director, and costars, Callas embarks on a journey that rekindles the thrill of artistic creation she thought had been extinguished, alongside the enduring love and adoration of millions who still hang on her every note.