Hellenic Film Society USA Presents Maria by Callas At Museum of the Moving Image, Sunday, December 10
In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Her Birth
Best-Selling Author Nicholas Gage to Give a Talk About the Life and Loves of the Legendary Opera Singer
The Hellenic Film Society USA is proud to present Maria by Callas, the acclaimed documentary that tells the life story of the legendary Greek-American opera singer. Told through stunning performance footage, TV interviews, and never-before-seen home movies, family photographs, private letters, and unpublished memoirs, the film reveals the essence of the extraordinary woman who rose from humble beginnings in New York City to become a glamorous international superstar and one of the greatest artists of all time. The film was a New York Times Critic's Pick when it was released in 2018.
The screening will be followed by remarks from best-selling author, Nicholas Gage, offering additional insights into the life and loves of Callas. Gage wrote Greek Fire: The Story of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis. The former New York Times reporter is perhaps best known for his award-winning best seller Eleni, about his mother's experience during the Greek Civil War.
The documentary, directed by Tom Volf, is an intimate portrait revealing the private woman behind the public image and dispels commonly held beliefs about Callas, notably her reputation as a tempestuous diva. The film also sheds light on Callas' long and complicated relationship with the love of her life, shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. Throughout most of her life, Volf believes, the opera singer struggled to reconcile the two different women within her: Maria, the woman who longed for a normal life; and Callas, the public figure and icon with an adoring yet demanding following.
Named a Critic's Pick by The New York Times, film critic Ben Kenigsberg called the film a "documentary that revitalizes history through primary sources, to illuminating, at times enthralling effect."
"The Hellenic Film Society is pleased to present this insightful film that explores the fascinating life of one of the most prominent Greek-Americans of the 20th century," says Jimmy DeMetro, president, Hellenic Film Society USA. "Interviews and home movies reveal Callas' complexity while stunning performance footage demonstrates why she became such a legend around the world."
For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org and follow on Facebook and Instagram. The Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, is conveniently located near public transportation.
The screening is part of Always on Sunday, the Greek film series presented monthly by the Hellenic Film Society at the Museum of the Moving Image. The series is partially supported by funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, Statewide Community Regrants Program with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature and administered by Flushing Town Hall.
About the Hellenic Film Society USA.
The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization rooted in the belief that Greek cinema deserves to be part of the American cultural landscape. The organization promotes feature films, documentaries, and film shorts made by Greek filmmakers and those of Greek descent, as well as films that promote the cultures of Greece and Cyprus.
In addition to collaborating with the prestigious Museum of the Moving Image for its series of monthly Greek film screenings, HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival. HFS also hosts a YouTube channel offering free Greek films and interviews with filmmakers.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by the Greek National Tourism Organization, the Kallinikeion Foundation, Antenna Satellite TV, and NYC & Company. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 347-934-9497
Photo: Hellenic Film Society
