'Emilia Pérez' Is One of the Most Audacious Musicals of Our Time

By Sara Clements | Film | September 23, 2024 |

By Sara Clements | Film | September 23, 2024 |

A crime drama about a Mexican cartel boss undergoing gender-affirming surgery is intriguing enough—but making it a psychedelic musical? French filmmaker Jacques Audiard has conceived one of his most daring premises yet. Known for the romantic drama *Rust and Bone* and the western *The Sisters Brothers*, Audiard’s 17th film, Emilia Pérez, could be the defining project of his career. This Spanish-language film, which won the Cannes Jury Prize and Best Actress award, and is France’s submission for Best International Feature, is a fever dream that defies expectations. Through vibrant song and dance, it follows a journey of rebirth and liberation.

The film revolves around three women. The first is Rita (Zoe Saldaña), an attorney in Mexico City preparing a defense for a domestic murder case. Her reputation as the best draws the attention of Manitas (Karla Sofía Gascón), a fearsome kingpin. He hires Rita to help him find an untraceable surgeon for sex-reassignment surgery, fake his death, and arrange for his wife Jessi (Selena Gomez) and children to start a new life in Switzerland.

Four years later, Emilia Pérez (also played by Gascón) emerges, and the former kingpin and Rita are unexpectedly reunited. Living authentically has transformed Emilia, and she begins rewriting her life story. With Rita, she forms an organization dedicated to locating the remains of Mexico’s disappeared, many of whom were women victimized by drug-related violence—the same violence Emilia caused in her past life. Her transformation is not only personal but also societal, as she uses her power and her new identity (posing as Manitas’s sister) to push for change. When she is finally reunited with Jessi and her children, a chain of events unfolds that threatens to unravel everything Emilia has built.

What sets Emilia Pérez apart is its music. The 16 original songs, a collaboration between singer-songwriter Camille and composer Clément Ducol, deepen the audience’s understanding of the characters. Each song reflects the characters’ emotional states or the situations around them. Traditional Mexican music influences are blended with various genres. Saldaña’s songs feature hip-hop and rock elements, including a show-stopping number where she sings and dances across tables at a gala dinner, calling out the hypocrisy of guests who support Emilia’s cause for justice while still being on the cartel’s payroll. In contrast, Gascón’s numbers are more intimate, tugging at the heartstrings as she portrays Emilia’s new experiences of love and a tender, heartbreaking moment with her daughter. Gomez delivers a high-energy track as Jessi, embodying a rebellious spirit that drives her character throughout the film.

Despite being named after its titular character, the film’s focus on Emilia can sometimes feel lopsided, especially when Rita—prominent in the first half—feels sidelined later on. While Emilia Pérez dazzles in many aspects, it stumbles in others, particularly with an ending that feels somewhat unsatisfying.

Nevertheless, with stunning set pieces, vibrant spectacle, and songs that elevate the emotional and dynamic performances of the cast, Emilia Pérez crackles with energy. Audiard crafts an emotional, often comedic, exploration of family, transformation, and confronting one’s past, while vividly capturing the struggles and vibrancy of Mexico.

Emilia Pérez will be released in theaters on November 1st, before arriving on Netflix on November 13.