Maria is a Netflix biographical drama about the life of opera legend Maria Callas during her last days in her Parisian apartment. It was directed by Pablo Larrañn and written by Steven Knight. The famous singer is shown in the movie as she struggles with her failing health, her voice and a strong feeling of being alone. There are many interesting parts to this story but the journalist Mandrax, whose name comes from a real drug that played a part in Callas’ life, is one of the most interesting.
Mandrax is a fictional tv reporter in Maria
Mandrax is a tv reporter in the movie, and Kodi Smit-McPhee, who was nominated for an Oscar, plays him. It quickly becomes clear, though, that this character only exists in Maria’s mind. Maria’s butler, Ferruccio, and her housekeeper, Bruna, never say anything to Mandrax during the whole movie. One scene has Maria talking to herself, which even the owner of a café finds strange.
For Maria, Mandrax is a character who helps her think about her past, her problems, and who she is. This plot device cleverly connects to the real-life drug Mandrax, which Maria used too much in her last years, representing both her physical and emotional struggles.
The Real ‘Mandrax’ Drug
Mandrax is not just a made-up character; but it was a real drug that was widely used in the middle of the 20th century. Mandrax, which is also known as Methaqualone— was first made in India in 1951. It was sold as a sleep aid and sedative under the brand names Quaalude and Sopor.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the drug became popular as both a prescription drug and a recreational drug. Artists like Frank Zappa and David Bowie were known to use it. But it was quickly clear that it was addictive, which led to widespread abuse. By the early 1980s, Mandrax was illegal in many places because it could be abused.
Reports say that Maria Callas had both physical and mental health problems in her later years, just like the actress who played her. Because of these problems, she may have turned to self-medication, and Mandrax was one of the things she used. According to the movie Maria, this part of her life is used to show how the drug made her condition worse.
Even though Mandrax wasn’t directly responsible for Callas’ death, the fact that she was so dependent on drugs shows how hard things were for her offstage. Maria Callas died of a heart attack on September 16, 1977. She was 53 years old.
Through the made-up reporter Mandrax— the movie powerfully shows how the singer was dependent on drugs and how alone she felt in her last days. By mixing reality and fantasy, Maria shows the inner turmoil of an artist who was very vulnerable even though she was famous. In this way, the movie helps viewers get a better sense of how complicated Maria Callas was behind the scenes and how hard her life was as a whole.
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