Emilia Pérez
Directed by Jacques Audiard
★★★★
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Description
Emilia Pérez. (Featured L-R) Zoe Saldaña as Rita Moro Castro and Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia Pérez in Emilia Pérez. Cr. Netflix © 2024.
Production Still Image
7200 x 3019
Credit
Courtesy of Netflix
Copyright
© 2024 Netflix, Inc.
From renowned auteur Jacques Audiard (Rust and Bone, A Prophet) comes Emilia Pérez, a genre-defying cinematic marvel that reimagines the musical as a visceral, emotionally charged odyssey. Set in Mexico, the film blends liberating song and dance, striking visuals, and a poignant exploration of identity, freedom, and authenticity. This audacious tale follows the intersecting lives of four remarkable women, each navigating their own pursuit of happiness.
At the center of the story is Emilia (Karla Sofía Gascón), a fearsome cartel leader yearning to escape her past and live life as her true self. To achieve this, she enlists the help of Rita (Zoe Saldaña), a brilliant but unappreciated lawyer stuck in a dead-end job, to fake her own death. What follows is a dazzling journey of transformation and redemption. Audiard’s nuanced screenplay tackles weighty themes with grace and wit, deftly balancing moments of heartfelt vulnerability with exuberant musical sequences.
Visually, Emilia Pérez is stunning. The cinematography captures both the gritty realism of Mexico’s landscapes and the vibrant dreamscapes of its musical interludes. Each frame is meticulously composed, with a color palette that mirrors the characters’ emotional journeys—dark and muted in moments of struggle, vivid and luminous as they embrace liberation. Audiard’s collaboration with the choreographers elevates the musical sequences into a realm of pure storytelling; every step, spin, and gesture contributes meaningfully to the narrative.
The music itself is a marvel. The songs, deeply rooted in the characters' inner worlds, feel authentic and emotionally resonant. They avoid the typical Broadway sheen, leaning instead into rawness and cultural specificity, which further immerses the audience in the film’s unique tone.
But what truly makes Emilia Pérez unforgettable is its performances. Karla Sofía Gascón delivers a hauntingly brilliant portrayal of Emilia, baring her soul with breathtaking vulnerability. Her performance captures the pain, courage, and joy of a woman determined to embrace her true self, making Emilia’s journey deeply moving. Zoe Saldaña, as Rita, delivers what might be the best performance of her career. Every subtle glance and restrained emotion she conveys reveals layers of complexity, drawing the audience into her character’s inner turmoil and growth. Selena Gomez, meanwhile, astonishes in a raw, stripped-down performance that sheds any remnants of her pop-star image, proving her mettle as a serious actor.
Emilia Pérez defies expectations at every turn, pushing the boundaries of what a musical can be. Jacques Audiard’s direction is bold and assured, weaving together stunning visuals, intricate choreography, and profound storytelling into a film that is as emotionally resonant as it is visually dazzling. Captivating, original, and unrelentingly human, Emilia Pérez is a must-watch for those seeking cinema that challenges conventions and touches the heart. This is a film that will stay with audiences long after the final note fades.
