Formulaic may not be the best way to describe Emilia Pérez. It’s a deeply unpredictable cocktail of social commentary, crime drama, and musical. It follows a Mexican crime boss who dreams of escaping the cartel and his assigned gender – but the one thing he can’t escape is the women in his orbit.
And, as confusing as that may sound – it’s actually pretty great. With a stellar cast featuring Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, and Selena Gomez, Emilia Pérez is yet another Jacques Audiard film that explores themes of identity, transformation, and redemption, however this time it is through song. A genre-blending choice that is an integral part of the narrative that not only provides vibrancy it adds an emotional depth to the characters, their journey and their inner thoughts that resonates with audiences as the film progresses.
Billed at the Toronto International Film Festival as an opera, the film is melodramatic and sensational. Alluding that roles we are assigned to play don’t have to define us – necessity may have required Juan ‘Manitas’ Del Monte to become a crime boss, but he has the means to reinvent himself into the person he dreamed of being all his life. He also has the means to transform the life of Zoe Saldaña’s character, Rita, a brilliant lawyer limited by her boss and obligations… the only exception is Manitas’ wife, played by Selena Gomez, an goalless ward who’s only known skill is to be a wife.
At the heart of Emilia Pérez is Karla Sofía Gascón’s portrayal of Juan ‘Manitas’ Del Monte. Gascón’s performance is engrossing, capturing the complexities of a character who is both fierce and vulnerable as she embarks on a journey to secretly transition. She brought an authenticity to the role, drawing from personal experiences as a transgendered woman – conveying the internal and external struggles even during the moments the film lacked momentum.
Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez both deliver solid performances as well, even thought their characters lacked depth – but truthfully, this film is a musical delivering a solid amount of camp and quite a few bangers, if I do say so myself.
Watching Emilia Pérez on a big screen isn’t how most people watch Netflix films. However, watching it at home and comparing to my initial viewing at the Toronto International Film Festival it really cannot be compared. It transformed the experience as an engrossing narrative through sights and sounds vs just catching it on my at home screen.
Across the web, critics have lauded the film’s innovative approach to blending drama and music. As Variety notes, “Audiard’s latest venture is a bold and beautiful exploration of identity, brought to life by a stellar cast and a captivating musical score.” The seamless integration of music and storytelling sets Emilia Pérez apart as a unique cinematic experience – and it’s hard to disagree.
Emilia Pérez is a bold cinematic jump that combines an ambitious story with an even more ambitious soundtrack. It’s worth a watch, but it’s important not to take it too seriously, because while it is a story of rebirth and redemption, it is also a film that features a song called “La Vaginoplastia” which, even the title alone transcends translation.
This Netflix original, aired on November 13 – so you can stream it at your convenience almost immediately!
Marie Nicola
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