Emilia Perez
Overview
Emilia Pérez is a 2024 Spanish-language musical crime comedy film written and directed by Jacques Audiard. The film stars Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia Pérez, a Mexican cartel boss who fakes her death and transitions into a woman; Zoe Saldaña as Rita, a lawyer who helps Emilia; and Selena Gomez as Jessi, the wife of Emilia's former identity. The film is a bold, audacious, and genre-defying musical. It blends telenovela melodrama, narcocorrido music, and transgender themes. Emilia is a brutal, ruthless cartel boss who is also a loving, vulnerable woman. She wants to leave her past behind and live authentically. She hires Rita to help her transition and to disappear. The film follows Emilia as she rebuilds her life, reconnecting with her children and her wife. She tries to atone for her past, but she is ultimately killed by a rival cartel. Emilia Pérez won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and its ensemble cast won the Best Actress award. The film was praised for its originality, its performances, and its bold storytelling.
