The film offers a unique and thought-provoking experience, deeply exploring music, crime and the search for identity. Emilia Pérez not only stuns with her unique plot, but also touches the audience’s hearts with charismatic performances, beautiful lyricism and emotional depth. Though the film has received criticism, particularly from Mexico and the LGBTQ community, its daring subject matter and stellar performances from the cast cannot be overlooked. Overall, this is a brave and sensitive film that is thought-provoking and pushes the boundaries of cinema.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Emilia Pérez |
| Director | Jacques Audiard |
| Writers | Jacques Audiard, Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius, Nicolas Livecchi |
| Based on | Emilia Pérez (libretto) and a chapter from Écoute by Boris Razon |
| Producers | Jacques Audiard, Pascal Caucheteux, Valérie Schermann, Anthony Vaccarello |
| Main Cast | Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Édgar Ramírez |
| Cinematography | Paul Guilhaume |
| Editing | Juliette Welfling |
| Music | Score by Clément Ducol, Songs by Camille |
| Production Companies | Why Not Productions, Page 114, Pathé, France 2 Cinéma, Saint Laurent Productions |
| Distributed by | Pathé Distribution (France), Netflix (North America, UK) |
| Release Dates | 18 May 2024 (Cannes), 21 August 2024 (France), 1 Nov 2024 (US/Canada – limited), 13 Nov 2024 (Netflix) |
| Running Time | 132 minutes |
| Languages | Spanish, English |
| Budget | €25 million (~$26 million) |
| Box Office | $16.3 million |
| Genre | Musical, Crime, Drama |
| Festival Premieres | Cannes, Telluride, Toronto, San Sebastián, Busan, Morelia, MAMI Mumbai |
| Awards (Highlights) | Cannes Jury Prize & Best Actress (ensemble), 2 Oscars, 4 Golden Globes |
| Reception | Critically praised in Europe/US, controversial in Mexico and among LGBTQ groups |
| Rotten Tomatoes Score | 72% (based on 262 reviews) |
| Metacritic Score | 70/100 (based on 55 reviews) |
Emilia Pérez Story
Emilia Pérez is a unique musical-crime drama film directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audier. The film depicts the extraordinary life journey of a Mexican drug lord who wants to leave his old identity and start a new life.
The story begins with Lorena, a brilliant but jaded lawyer, who receives a strange proposition from a mysterious man: Manuel Lopez, a notorious drug kingpin, wants her to help him legally transition into a woman. He wants to undergo a gender transition and become Emilia Perez – to start a new life and atone for his crimes.
Lorena accepts this unusual mission and joins Emilia’s rebirth process. But as Emilia begins her new life — in an effort to help her ex-wife and children — the old past, violence, and a hunger for power once again get in her way.
The film is both a crime thriller and an emotional journey that explores the deeper aspects of music, identity, self-acceptance, and justice. Carla Sofia Gascón stars as the powerful character of Emilia, with Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldana in key supporting roles.
The film won the Jury Prize and the Best Actress Award (collectively) at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. It is a powerful, controversial yet sensitive story that leaves the audience thinking.
Trailer
Review
Emilia Pérez is a unique and highly acclaimed film released recently, nominated for several awards. The film is based on the 2018 novel Écoute (author: Boris Razon) and its story is a wonderful blend of social commentary, music and melodrama. It is a film that breaks the boundaries of traditional genre.
The story of the film revolves around three women who are searching for purpose and happiness in their lives. The first woman is Rita (Zoe Saldana), a talented but overlooked lawyer who gets a unique opportunity to change her life. She receives an offer of legal help from a ruthless drug lord named Manitas (Carla Sofia Gascón) – but this help is not ordinary, but related to a secret gender change surgery.
Four years later, Rita meets Emilia Pérez – the same Manitas, who has now become a woman and runs a non-profit organization that helps find people missing due to drug violence. Another important character in the story is Jessie (Selena Gomez), who is Emilia’s wife and the mother of their two children. This relationship adds a deep complexity and emotional layer to the story.
The first half of the film is extremely compelling – it is an impressive amalgamation of story, music and emotions. But the film seems to wander a bit in the second half. The director touches on many topics, but they are not explored in depth, which makes the plot a little unclear. Still, the presentation of the emotional and social aspects of the film is commendable.
Talking about the performances, both Zoe Saldana and Carla Gascón bring life to their respective characters. Zoe is considered a major contender for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, and some viewers even consider her worthy of the lead role. Carla’s performance is equally strong and effective.
This is no ordinary musical – its songs focus on emotions and dialogue, not on tunes. So you probably won’t find yourself humming any songs after the film is over. Still, the film is an artistic achievement that will last a long time.
Emilia Pérez is a daring experiment that takes risks and manages to deliver an intense experience. It’s available on Netflix and is worth watching, even if it may not appeal to everyone equally.
Conclusion
Emilia Pérez is a bold and unique film that tackles complex themes such as music, social issues and personal identity in an emotional way. Strong performances from Zoe Saldana and Carla Gascón make it special. Although the second half of the film seems a bit confusing, its sensitivity and strong female characters make it worth watching. This film breaks away from conventional cinema and offers a new kind of experience. If you are looking for something different, intense and emotional, then definitely give Emilia Pérez a chance.