New Movies: Being Maria (2024) by Jessica Palud

Being Maria (2024) / Maria: A Portrait of Trauma and Resilience

Description: "Being Maria" (original French title: "Maria") is a 2024 French biographical drama film directed by Jessica Palud. Freely adapted from Vanessa Schneider's 2018 memoir "My Cousin Maria Schneider," the film delves into the life and career of actress Maria Schneider (1952–2011). It primarily dramatizes her experiences while working on Bernardo Bertolucci's controversial 1972 film "Last Tango in Paris," focusing on the psychological and emotional fallout she endured, and how this pivotal event shaped her subsequent life and career. The film aims to offer a feminist perspective on Schneider's story, highlighting her voice and the abuses she faced in an industry that often silenced women.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19995770/

Link Review: https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/being-maria-review-1236016826/

About movie: https://kinolorber.com/film/being-maria?srsltid=AfmBOoq4B8vxgAiIs-lBp7KM1s1w0C5jPLoPRYKuVVqV229_XJ7re2-w

Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/being-maria (US), https://www.justwatch.com/ca/movie/being-maria (Canada), https://www.justwatch.com/fr/film/being-maria (France)

Detailed Summary: The film centers on Maria Schneider (Anamaria Vartolomei) as a promising, young 19-year-old French actress in the early 1970s. The daughter of French actor Daniel Gélin, Maria is on the cusp of adulthood when she lands the lead role in Bernardo Bertolucci's (Giuseppe Maggio) controversial erotic drama "Last Tango in Paris," starring opposite the celebrated American actor Marlon Brando (Matt Dillon). What initially appears to be the opportunity of a lifetime quickly devolves into a living hell.

The film meticulously recreates the tense and exploitative atmosphere on the set of "Last Tango in Paris," particularly focusing on the infamous "butter scene." It portrays how Bertolucci and Brando conspired to shoot a crucial, unsimulated sex scene without fully informing Maria beforehand, leading to a profound sense of betrayal and humiliation for the young actress. While "Last Tango in Paris" catapults Maria to international fame and scandal, the film "Being Maria" illustrates how this experience leaves her deeply traumatized, affecting her personal relationships, her psychological well-being, and her career trajectory.

The narrative extends beyond the set, showing Maria's struggles with drug addiction, her strained relationships with family (including her father, played by Yvan Attal, and her cousin Vanessa, played by Céleste Brunnquell), and her battle to redefine herself beyond the iconic and damaging role of Jeanne. "Being Maria" aims to be a respectful, nuanced, and ultimately feminist denunciation of the abuses of power in the name of art, giving voice to a woman who spoke out but was often unheard in her lifetime.

Plot Summary:

• A Promising Start: 19-year-old Maria Schneider, a budding actress, is cast in Bernardo Bertolucci's "Last Tango in Paris" alongside Marlon Brando.

• On-Set Trauma: The film details the abusive and exploitative conditions on set, particularly the infamous "butter scene," where Maria felt assaulted and betrayed by Bertolucci and Brando.

• Fame and Fallout: While the film brings her immediate fame, it also unleashes a torrent of scandal and psychological damage, profoundly impacting her life.

• Struggle for Identity: Maria battles with addiction, strained relationships, and the challenge of reclaiming her identity beyond the shadow of the controversial film.

• Feminist Perspective: The biopic offers a critical look at the abuses of power in cinema, centering Maria's voice and highlighting her fight for recognition and justice in an industry that failed her.

Director's Vision: Jessica Palud's vision for "Being Maria" is to offer a deeply empathetic and precise portrayal of Maria Schneider's tormented journey, shifting the narrative perspective entirely to Maria's point of view. Palud aimed to immerse the audience in Maria's gaze and never abandon it, wanting viewers to feel what Maria felt. Drawing inspiration from Vanessa Schneider's memoir and extensive interviews with Maria Schneider, Palud sought to expose the "violence of these images" and the "violated integrity" that Maria endured. She expressed a desire to question the limits of art and the unexamined abuses that were once silenced in the name of artistic creation. Palud wanted to create a raw yet beautiful image, inspired by photographers like Nan Goldin, to highlight Maria at every moment and foster universal identification with her character. This film serves as a powerful testament to Palud's commitment to feminist storytelling and a re-evaluation of historical abuses within the film industry.

Themes:

• Abuse of Power in Cinema: Critiques the unchecked authority of directors and the vulnerability of actors, particularly women, in the face of artistic demands.

• Trauma and Its Aftermath: Explores the long-lasting psychological and emotional damage inflicted by a traumatic event, and the struggle for healing and resilience.

• Identity and Exploitation: Examines how a person's identity can be consumed and distorted by a single defining (and traumatic) public event, and the fight to reclaim one's self.

• Fame and Scandal: Delves into the double-edged sword of celebrity, where fame can bring both glory and immense personal suffering and judgment.

• Feminist Reckoning: Acts as a modern-day re-evaluation of past injustices against women in the film industry, predating the #MeToo movement but resonating strongly with its themes.

Key Success Factors:

• Timely and Relevant Subject Matter: The film directly addresses the historical abuse of Maria Schneider, a story that has gained significant attention in the #MeToo era, making it highly pertinent.

• Anamaria Vartolomei's Performance: Anamaria Vartolomei's portrayal of Maria Schneider has been widely praised for its intensity, sensitivity, and ability to embody the complex emotional journey.

• Empathetic Directorial Approach: Jessica Palud's commitment to telling the story from Maria's perspective offers a much-needed re-evaluation of a controversial cinematic moment.

• Cannes Premiere: Its selection for the Cannes Premiere section at the 77th Cannes Film Festival gave it significant visibility and critical attention.

• Exploration of Artistic Ethics: The film sparks important conversations about the ethical boundaries of art and the responsibilities of creators towards their collaborators.

Summary Short: "Being Maria" (2024), directed by Jessica Palud, is a French biographical drama about actress Maria Schneider, specifically focusing on the trauma she experienced during the filming of "Last Tango in Paris." Starring Anamaria Vartolomei as Maria and Matt Dillon as Marlon Brando, the film offers a feminist re-evaluation of her story. It premiered at Cannes 2024 in the Cannes Premiere section and was theatrically released in France on June 19, 2024.

Awards and Nominations:

• Official Selection: Cannes Premiere section, 77th Cannes Film Festival (World Premiere: May 21, 2024)

Further awards and nominations are likely as the film screens at more festivals and gains wider distribution.

Critics Reception: Critical reception for "Being Maria" has been mixed to positive, with strong praise for Anamaria Vartolomei's performance and Jessica Palud's empathetic approach, though some found the narrative structure or pacing uneven.

• Metacritic Score: 59/100 (Mixed or Average) based on 11 critic reviews. (As of May 2025)

• Positive Remarks: Critics lauded Anamaria Vartolomei's "compelling" and "truthful" portrayal of Maria Schneider. Many praised Palud's respectful and "feminist work of denunciation," particularly in how it centered Maria's perspective. It was noted for its "modesty and utmost precision" in re-tracing Schneider's tormented trajectory.

• Mixed/Negative Remarks: Some reviewers found the film to be "flawed but fascinating," with criticisms pointing to a sometimes "meandering" narrative, or that it "overstates its case" at times. Some felt that while it effectively conveyed the trauma, it sometimes lacked dramatic tension in later acts or that the overall message felt familiar to those already aware of Schneider's story.

• Overall Summary: The film is recognized for its important subject matter and a powerful central performance. While not universally acclaimed for its narrative execution, it is widely regarded as a significant and necessary contribution to the ongoing conversation about consent and ethics in filmmaking.

Reviews: Reviews frequently highlight the film's intent and Vartolomei's acting:

• Variety (Alissa Simon): "Being Maria is a flawed but fascinating look at the turbulent life of actor Maria Schneider," praising its focus on Schneider's internal world.

• The Hollywood Reporter (Jordan Mintzer): "Vartolomei is a compelling actress and the camera truly loves her, but there’s only so much she can do with a script that doesn’t have much of a second or third act."

• Cineuropa (Giorgia Del Don): "Re-tracing the tormented trajectory of actress Maria Schneider with modesty and utmost precision, Jessica Palud delivers a feminist work of denunciation with very modern undertones."

• IMDb User Reviews: Indicate a generally positive audience response, with many calling it "sad, infuriating, and important," praising Vartolomei and the film's honest portrayal of Schneider's mistreatment.

• Overall Summary: The film is seen as a crucial historical retelling, empowered by a strong lead, even if some critics wished for more narrative depth beyond the central traumatic event.

Production: "Being Maria (2024)" is a French biographical drama. It has a runtime of 102 minutes (1 hour 42 minutes) and is presented in color and primarily in French. The film was directed by Jessica Palud and co-written by Palud and Laurette Polmanss, freely adapted from Vanessa Schneider's 2018 memoir "My Cousin Maria Schneider." The cinematography was handled by Sébastien Buchmann, with music by Benjamin Biolay.

Production Companies:

• Les Films de Mina

• StudioCanal (co-production)

• Moteur S'il Vous Plaît Production (co-production)

• Cinema Inutile (co-production)

• With participation from Orange Cinéma Séries.

Sales Companies:

• StudioCanal (handles international sales rights)

Distribution Companies:

• Haut et Court (France, theatrical)

• Frenetic Films (Switzerland, theatrical)

• Imovision (Brazil, theatrical)

• Kino Lorber (United States, theatrical/digital, planned for 2025)

Theatrical Release:

• World Premiere: May 21, 2024 (Cannes Film Festival – Cannes Premiere section)

• France: June 19, 2024

• Switzerland (French-speaking): June 19, 2024

• South Korea: August 24, 2024 (Seoul International Women's Film Festival)

• Netherlands: October 3, 2024

• United States: Expected in 2025 (Kino Lorber distribution)

Why You Should Watch This Movie:

• A Crucial Re-evaluation of Film History: "Being Maria" offers a vital and long-overdue perspective on the infamous "Last Tango in Paris" and its devastating impact on Maria Schneider, urging a re-examination of artistic ethics and consent.

• Anamaria Vartolomei's Tour-de-Force Performance: Her portrayal of Maria Schneider is hailed as incredibly powerful and nuanced, capturing the vulnerability, trauma, and enduring spirit of a complex woman.

• Jessica Palud's Empathetic Direction: Palud handles a sensitive and potentially exploitative subject with immense care and precision, ensuring Maria's voice and experience are at the forefront. It's a respectful and poignant tribute.

• Timely and Resonant Themes: In the wake of the #MeToo movement, the film's exploration of abuse of power, exploitation, and the silencing of women in the entertainment industry is more relevant than ever.

• Powerful Biopic: If you appreciate character-driven biopics that delve deep into the psychological toll of fame and trauma, this film offers an intimate and compelling journey.

Why to Watch Movie:

• If you are interested in untold stories of Hollywood/cinema history: It sheds light on a controversial event from a victim's perspective.

• For powerful female-led dramas: Anamaria Vartolomei's performance is a major highlight.

• To support films with a strong social message: It serves as a commentary on consent, power dynamics, and the ethical responsibility of artists.

• If you enjoy character studies: The film focuses deeply on Maria Schneider's internal struggles and evolution.

• To see acclaimed French cinema: It's a well-produced and critically recognized French drama.

What Movie Trend Film Is Following: Biopics with a Feminist Reframe: The film aligns with a current trend of revisiting historical figures, particularly women, to tell their stories from a contemporary, often feminist, perspective, highlighting overlooked struggles or injustices. It also contributes to the "trauma cinema" subgenre, exploring the long-term psychological impact of abuse.

What Big Social Trend Is Following: The film directly engages with the ongoing #MeToo movement and the broader conversation about consent, workplace harassment, and accountability in industries, particularly in entertainment. It underscores the importance of listening to and believing victims, and re-evaluating past artistic works through a modern ethical lens.

Final Verdict: "Being Maria (2024)" is a vital and emotionally resonant film that demands attention. Jessica Palud's sensitive direction, coupled with Anamaria Vartolomei's exceptional performance, crafts a powerful and often heartbreaking portrait of Maria Schneider's life, inextricably linked to the trauma of "Last Tango in Paris." While a difficult watch at times, its unflinching honesty and empathetic approach make it a necessary and deeply significant contribution to both cinematic history and the ongoing discourse around consent and abuse in the arts. It is a film that will resonate profoundly with audiences, offering a poignant and important re-examination of a life shaped by fame and profound betrayal.

Recommendations for Film Makers:

• Approach Sensitive Subjects with Empathy: When tackling real-life trauma, prioritize the victim's perspective and emotional truth, ensuring the narrative serves their experience rather than sensationalizing it.

• Leverage Archival Material and Testimonies: Use existing interviews, memoirs, and accounts to build an authentic and respectful portrayal of the subject.

• Cast Authentically and Powerfully: For a character study, casting a lead actor who can embody the complexity and emotional depth of the real person is paramount.

Recommendations for Movie Industry:

• Promote Ethical Filmmaking Practices: The film serves as a powerful reminder of the historical need for greater ethical standards and protections for actors on set.

• Support Trauma-Informed Storytelling: Encourage and fund films that explore the complexities of trauma and its long-term effects, contributing to greater understanding and empathy.

• Re-evaluate and Learn from History: Use films like "Being Maria" as opportunities for the industry to reflect on its past, acknowledge abuses, and commit to fostering safer and more respectful working environments for all.