Emilia Pérez is a genuinely unique and engaging genre/gender bending cinematic experience. Although primarily this Spanish-language French film is a crime drama set in the world of Mexican drug cartels director/writer Jacques Audiard cleverly interweaves the ultra-violent narrative with lively musical sequences in which the characters spontaneously break out in song. The film is based on Boris Razon’s 2018 novel Écoute and stars Spanish born trans actress Karla Sofía Gascón, pop star Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, and Édgar Ramírez. Since it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year the movie has garnered a slew of awards and nominations even garnering thirteen Oscar noms at this year’s Academy Awards before going on to win two; one for Supporting Actress (Zoe Saldaña) and another for Best original Song.
The film’s narrative centers around cartel boss Juan “Manitas” Del Monte (Gascón) who recruits Rita Mora Castro (Saldaña), a lawyer who has experience defending wealthy crime lords and keeping them out of jail. Rita is offered a job she can’t refuse; aiding Manitas in his efforts to transition from male into a female and begin a new and authentic life. Rita proceeds to travel the world in order to set up and arrange for the kingpin to find the right doctor and private medical institution to facilitate this massive life change. Years after the procedure Manitas (now known as Emilia Pérez) once again elicits the young lawyer’s assistance in order to help her reunite with her family (who believe Manitas is dead) back in Mexico.
Despite the fact that lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón has been receiving most of the press attention and industry accolades for her work in Emile Pérez, it’s Zoe Saldaña who delivers the film’s most standout and nuanced performance in her role as a conflicted and struggling lawyer trying not just to survive but thrive amidst a world populated by violence, crime, and death. The actress, known for her previous work in films such as Avatar (2009), Colombiana (2011), and Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), delivers a tour de force performance as her character evolves from world weary law professional to caring friend and fearless political activist. Throughout the course of Emilia Pérez Saldaña seamlessly navigates her way through both elaborately staged musical set pieces as well as gritty gun battles.
The musical sequences in Emilia Pérez provide many of the crime drama/musical’s best moments. Selena Gomez’s pivotal dream/musical sequence is a particular highlight. The pop princess’ experience in the music industry, making music videos, and mastering complex choreography definitely gives her an advantage over her fellow actors. With her role in Emile Pérez Gomez embraces a more mature acting style and breaks free of her former teen queen persona.
Emilia Pérez isn’t a perfect film by any means. The narrative has several problems and includes an array of inconsistencies. One of the most distracting aspects of the movie is filmmaker Jacques Audiard’s decision to include a number of disconcerting and unnecessary location shifts (Mexico City/ London/ Tel Aviv/ Bangkok) which serve little purpose other than to leave filmgoers feeling off kilter and disoriented as well as adding superfluous subject matter to the film’s two hour plus running time.
Unfortunately, another way Emilia Pérez falls is due to its lack of character development. Throughout the course of the narrative, it seems as if the individual characters and the reality of their lives aren’t developed enough in terms of fleshing out the realities of who these people are and how they got to be where they are in life. They don’t seem like three dimensional characters but rather serve as vehicles used to propel the narrative onward. As an example, it would’ve been nice to have more background material surrounding Emilia’s wish to transition from being an ultra-masculine male into a female.
Perhaps one of the film’s greatest strengths is that it feels both timely and timeless simultaneously. Although the themes and subject matter explored in Emilia Pérez are primarily focused on the brutality of Mexican crime cartels the movie uses this complex milieu to explore more universal themes such as the search for personal authenticity and freedom. The title character’s struggle to live life on her own terms and feel comfortable in her skin reflects a more universal theme of self-discovery and acceptance. This theme takes on special meaning and resonance when viewed in regards to our current transphobic political milieu.
Any true cinema buff has to admire a filmmaker who takes creative risks and is willing to go off the beaten track in order to forge their own artistic path. With Emilia Pérez writer/director Jacques Audiard seemingly blends incompatible genres in order to create a new, unique, and exciting cinematic treat. This crime opera is definitely one of the best and most original films of 2024.
Emilia Perez is in theatres now.
