A thrilling experience

Callas Forever is one of the most compelling films I've ever seen that deals with the subject of what it means to possess a magnificent, other-worldly talent and to have that talent no longer at your disposal, to live day to day with the knowledge that you were once capable of true greatness but it exists no more, only in your memories and in your recordings, through which you are immortalized but tormented.

Fanny Ardant manages to bring Maria Callas to life in this extraordinary fictionalized account, created by the still-great Zeffirelli and his writing partner, Martin Sherman. She is reunited here with her co-star from the film Australia, Jeremy Irons, who turns in one of his most captivating performances ever (and I've seen them all, from Nijinsky on), as Callas' manager/promoter and friend Larry Kelly, who coaxes her out of her housebound depression with his brilliant idea, which inspires her back to life for at least a short while. This is film-making at its most thrilling; if you get a chance to see Callas Forever, do not miss the opportunity.