Emilia Pérez

Emilia Pérez(Latin American Spanish:[eˈmiljaˈpeɾes]) is a 2024 Spanish-language Frenchmusicalcrime filmwritten and directed byJacques Audiard. It is based on Audiard'sopera librettoof the same name, which he loosely adapted from a chapter of the 2018 novelÉcouteby French writer Boris Razon. The film follows a Mexican cartel leader (Karla Sofía Gascón) who enlists a lawyer (Zoe Saldaña) to help the cartel leader to disappear andtransition into a woman.Selena Gomez,Adriana Paz,Mark Ivanir, andÉdgar Ramírezalso appear in starring roles.
Emilia Pérezhad its world premiere on 18 May 2024 at the77th Cannes Film Festival, where it won theJury Prizeand theBest Actressaward for its female ensemble. It was theatrically released by Pathé in France on 21 August 2024. The film received generally positive reviews from critics in the United States and Europe, earning praise for its direction, music, performances and themes. In Mexico, the film was panned by audiences and critics, who criticized its cultural misrepresentation, songwriting, use of stereotypes, and Spanish dialogue.SomeLGBTQcommentators were critical of its depiction of trans people.
At the97th Academy Awards,Emilia Pérezreceived a leading 13 nominations, includingBest Picture,Best Director,Best Actressfor Gascón (who became the first openlytrans womanto be nominated in the category), andBest Supporting Actressfor Saldaña. At the82nd Golden Globe Awards, the film won four awards, includingBest Motion Picture – Musical or ComedyandBest Foreign Language Film, from 10 nominations.Emilia Pérezalso made history by becoming the most-nominated non-English-language film at both ceremonies. It also received 11 nominations at the78th British Academy Film Awards, includingBest Film, winning two. Saldaña has wonBest Supporting Actressat the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards & British Academy Film Awards.
Rita Mora Castro, a struggling attorney inMexico City, leads the defense in a murder case involving a prominent media figure's wife. Against her own conscience, Rita proceeds to argue that the woman died by suicide ("El alegato"). After winning the case, Rita receives an anonymous call with a mysterious but lucrative offer. Reflecting on her discontent, she agrees to a meeting ("Todo y nada"). Her client, revealed to be cartel kingpin Juan "Manitas" Del Monte, expresses the desire to covertly undergogender-affirming surgeryand begin a new and authentic life ("El encuentro") as a woman.
After consulting with doctors inBangkok("La vaginoplastia") andTel Aviv("Lady"), Rita finds a surgeon who agrees to perform the procedure after hearing Manitas' recollections ofgender dysphoriaduring childhood ("Deseo"). Following the procedure, Manitas' children and wife, Jessi, are relocated to Switzerland for their safety. Rita is paid an exorbitant sum of money for her services. Manitas stages a fake death and begins a new life as Emilia Pérez.
Four years later in London, Rita encounters Emilia, who wants to reunite with her children ("Por casualidad"). Rita arranges for Jessi and the children to return to Mexico City to live with Emilia, introducing her as a distant, wealthy cousin of Manitas who has volunteered to help raise the children. Jessi does not recognize Emilia and opposes the arrangement, ultimately agreeing to return to Mexico only to reunite with Gustavo Brun, a past lover with whom she had an affair during the later years of her marriage ("Bienvenida").
Adjusting to their new life in Mexico, Rita and Emilia have a chance encounter with themother of a missing child. Emilia reflects on her criminal past ("Mis siete hermanos y yo"). Later, as she is putting her son to bed, he says he still recognizes her scent ("Papá"). Remorseful, Emilia uses her connections with incarcerated cartel members to create a nonprofit that identifies the bodies of cartel victims ("Para") in order to return them to their families. Rita and Emilia collaborate in building the nonprofit and recruiting donors, some of whom, Rita notes, are dangerous and corrupt ("El mal"). Epifanía, a woman whose abusive husband's remains were identified by the nonprofit, meets with Emilia to confirm his death. The two subsequently begin a relationship ("El amor").
Meanwhile, Jessi continues rekindling her relationship with Gustavo ("Mi camino"). She tells Emilia that the two plan to marry and move the family to a new home. When Emilia refers to the children as "mine" and becomes physically aggressive, Jessi flees with the children. After Emilia cuts off Jessi's allowance and threatens Gustavo into leaving Mexico, Jessi and Gustavo kidnap Emilia and demand ransom from Rita. She receives a package with a few of Emilia's severed fingers. Arriving at the designated location, Rita attempts to negotiate with Gustavo. But a shootout ensues with the security team Rita has hired to rescue Emilia.
Emilia finally reveals her true identity to Jessi, recounting intimate details of their first meeting and their wedding day ("Perdóname"). Gustavo and a confused Jessi load Emilia into the trunk of Gustavo's car and drive off. As Jessi slowly realizes what has happened, she becomes guilt-ridden and orders Gustavo to pull over, holding him at gunpoint. As the two struggle for the gun, the car veers off the road, killing Gustavo, Jessi, and Emilia.
Rita, devastated over Emilia's death, tells Jessi's children what has happened and offers to be their guardian. Epifanía marches in the street singing Emilia's eulogy and celebrating her fight for truth and freedom ("Las damas que pasan").
In January 2022,Téléramareleased a five-episode program covering in detailJacques Audiard'spre-productionprocess.Audiard developed the screenplay from what was originally intended to be anopera librettoin four acts.The title character was inspired by a chapter from Boris Razon's 2018 novelÉcoute.Emilia Pérezmarks the first time Audiard has written a film alone. Previous co-writerThomas Bidegainserves as a creative collaborator.
Clément Ducolcomposed the original score, while Ducol and French singerCamillecomposed the original songs. Camille wrote the lyrics to the songs in Spanish with the assistance of a Mexican translator, and performed on thedemo.Damien Jaletchoreographed the musical sequences.Anthony Vaccarello, of fashion houseYves Saint Laurent, created the costumes.
Production was initially to begin in autumn 2022 but was delayed six months due to varying scheduling conflicts with the cast members.It was originally set to take place on location in Mexico but was moved to the Studios de Bry-Sur-Marne nearParisinstead,in accordance with Audiard's wishes.The interior scenes included a reconstruction of an "authentic Mexican backdrop".Audiard stated that the studio setting would afford him the ability to "produce more form" and give him "more freedom for the parts that are sung and choreographed".
Principal photographybegan in May 2023 in theÎle-de-Franceregion, beforewrappingon 5 July 2023.The film is produced byPascal Caucheteux[fr]through his companyWhy Not Productions, and also by Audiard and Valérie Schermann through their company Page 114;in co-production withPathé,France 2 Cinéma, and Vaccarello'sSaint Laurent Productions, a division of Yves Saint Laurent.
Gascón wished to portray Emilia Pérez both in the pre-surgery and post-surgery stages.
The soundtrack album features the film's original songs performed by cast membersZoe Saldaña,Karla Sofía Gascón,Selena Gomez,Mark Ivanir,Adriana Pazand others, as well as the original score composed by Ducol and Camille. The soundtrack was first released digitally on 31 October 2024 bySony Masterworks.Anextended play(EP) featuring a selection of five songs from the soundtrack–"El alegato", "Para", "Papá", "El mal" and "Las damas que pasan"–was released earlier on 5 September 2024.
Emilia Pérezwas selected to compete for thePalme d'Orat the2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 18 May 2024.The film received astanding ovation.
Shortly after its premiere,Netflixbeat out multiple studios and was in negotiations to acquire distribution rights to the film for North America and the United Kingdom for $12 million; the deal ultimately closed at $8 million instead.The film was theatrically released in France on 21 August 2024 by Pathé.World sales for international distribution were handled by The Veterans.
The film made its North American premiere at the51st Telluride Film Festival.It played at theToronto International Film Festivalon 9 September 2024,at theSan Sebastián International Film Festival('Perlak' section),and it was selected in Icons at the29th Busan International Film Festivalto be screened in October 2024.Emilia Pérezhas also been selected for theMAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024under the World Cinema section.The film opened the 22ndMorelia International Film Festivalin October 2024.It received alimited theatrical releasein the United States and Canada on 1 November, before debuting on Netflix on 13 November in the US, UK, and Canada.
On thereview aggregatorwebsiteRotten Tomatoes, 72% of 260 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.8/10. The website's consensus reads: "Karla Sofía Gascón is Emilia Perez in a swaggering musical crime thriller of genre-bending fascination that is also an unapologetically trans story."Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned the film a score of 70 out of 100, based on 55 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.OnAlloCiné, the film received an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars, based on 38 reviews from French critics.
Kevin MaherfromThe Timesrated the film 5 out of 5 stars, stating "this mad musical is one of the year's best films."Stephanie ZacharekofTimeconsidered that a film such asEmilia Pérezfeels "fierce and glorious, a radical act of the imagination with kindness in its heart".Manohla DargisofThe New York Timesdetermined that "it's Gascón's performance that centers and grounds the story".Richard BrodyofThe New Yorkerlamented that the film "presents twists and turns that exhaust themselves in the strain to stoke excitement; the movie is a wild ride to nowhere".Peter BradshawofThe Guardianrated the film 3 out of 5 stars, billing it as a "slightly bizarre yet watchable musical", also writing that Gascón "carries it off with queenly flair".
Leonard Maltincalled the film "unique and amazing", writing: "Phrases like 'game-changer' and 'cutting-edge' can’t capture just how audacious and originalEmilia Pérezis. [It's] a knock-out."Peter Traversdescribed the film as an "unmissable movie event", writing: "You've never seen anything like Jacques Audiard's Spanish musical about violent passions starring Zoë Saldaña, Selena Gomez and trans actress Karla Sofia Gascón in career-defining performances that take a piece out of you. This you don't want to miss."
British film magazineSight and Soundincluded the film in its 50 Best Films of 2024 list.American directorJohn Watersplaced the film in his Top 10 list of the best films of 2024.The film is included inTime's Top 10 list of the best films of 2024.It ranks No. 8 inFotogramas'list of Top 10 Films of 2024.Deadline Hollywoodfilm critics Damon Wise and Stephanie Bunbury have the film in each of their Top 10 lists.It ranks at No. 46 and No. 47 inThe Guardian's US and UK lists respectively.
FilmmakersTaylor HackfordandDenis Villeneuveboth citedEmilia Pérezas one of their favorite films of 2024.James Cameron, who worked with Zoe Saldaña on theAvatarfilms, praised the film, calling it "bold" and "daring".Emily Bluntcalled the film "a singular experience".Meryl Streeppraised the film and Gomez's performance, describing it as "beautiful, smudged, sensual, incredible".DirectorMichael Manncalled it a "contemporary masterpiece". Fellow directorsPaul Schrader,Maggie Betts,R.J. Cutler,Drew Goddard,Michael Gracey,Reinaldo Marcus GreenandNicole Holofcenerlisted the film as one of their favorites of 2024.Madonna,America Ferrera,Daisy Ridley,Eva Longoria,Jason Reitman,Jeremy O. Harris,Oliver Stoneand other industry figures have also expressed admiration for the film.
Contrasting to the positive industry reaction, the reception found within Mexico's cultural sector was divided.Mexican filmmakerGuillermo del Tororemarked, "It's so beautiful to see a movie that is cinema".Furthermore, Mexican director and writerIssa Lópezpraised the film, calling it a "masterpiece".Conversely, Mexican cinematographerRodrigo Prietodescribed the experience of watching the film as offensive and "completely inauthentic".Gomez's performance and Spanish diction, which generated abundant memes,were described as "indefensible" byEugenio Derbez, who later retracted after a greatly polarised online response.
Critics and advocacy organisations in and from theLGBTQ communityhave been much more critical. Speaking forNPR'sPop Culture Happy Hour, critic Reanna Cruz said that "it seemed like the filmmaker was paintingtrans womenas liars", whileGLAADcalled it "a profoundly retrograde portrayal of a trans woman" and "a step backward for trans representation".Drew Burnett Gregory, writing forAutostraddle, asked, "How many times docispeople have to learn about us before a portrayal like this one rings as false to them as it does to me?"Editors of the American LGBT magazineThemclaimed the film perpetuates an idea of "transness so completely from the cis imagination".Lisa Laman ofCulturess, meanwhile, lamented howEmilia Pérezwas yet another trans-centric film that focused excessively on surgeries and only featured one trans character in its entire cast.
InEl País,Paul B. Preciadodescribed the film as "a polysemic amalgam loaded with racism and transphobia, anti-Latino exoticism and melodramatic binarism" which "reinforces the colonial and pathologizing narrative" of both gender transition and Mexican culture.
Emilia Pérezwas released in Mexican theatres on 23 January 2025,and has been widely criticized.As the film was screened at theMorelia Film Festivalin October 2024,Mexican audiences reportedly resented a lack of "sensitivity and context", as well as Audiard's broad comments acknowledging that he had not researched the Mexican context in depth.Gascón's vehement defense of the film against negative opinions about the film on social media also received backlash.Likewise, some Mexicans were incensed about casting director Carla Hool's comments suggesting a lack of [Mexican] local talent as a reason for the primarily non-Mexican cast.Carlos Aguilar ofRogerEbert.comdescribed the overall casting as "another patch in this glamorous pastiche."
The film was also criticised as an "insensitive caricature" that is an apologism to drug traffickers.The lyrics of the song "Papá" performed by Emilia Pérez's daughter, alluding to the daughter'solfactory memories("You smell like my dad, likeDiet Cokewith ice, lemon and sweat.Mezcalandguacamole") were decried as "simplistic" and "ridiculous" on social media.A parody short film,Johanne Sacreblu, set in France and featuringstereotypicalFrench accentsbut starring Mexicans and filmed in Mexico, was released by Camila Aurora González, a trans Mexican content creator.
In January 2025, it was revealed that Gascón had posted controversial tweets onto herTwitteraccount, verbally attackingMuslims,George Floydand diversity at theAcademy Awards. She made another comment towardsIslam, also ofAnti-Catalan sentimentand attackingChristianityandCatholicismtoo. She made a racist comment towards China in August 2020.
These comments caused backlash from the public, which eventually caught Gascón's attention. She apologised for her tweets and later deleted her Twitter account.The deletion of her account caused more backlash, especially as many people considered her apology as basic and hollow. She organised an hour-long TV interview withCNN en Español, where she became emotional and repeated that she was not racist throughout the interview and compared her struggles to the struggles of black people.
Gascón received more backlash following her TV interview, after people disliked the comments she made throughout it. The backlash extended to Gascón's co-star Zoe Saldaña.
Following these statements, Netflix decided to no longer fund Gascón's travel or fashion for the remainder of awards season and removed her fromEmilia Pérez's awards campaign. Netflix released a new poster, bringing their main focus onto the film's numerous wins and big nomination tallies, with Gascón absent from the poster.
Jacques Audiard stated that he was no longer in contact with Gascón after her apology.Following Audiard's comments, Gascón posted a statement on Instagram, stating that she would step back. She said that she hoped that her silence would "allow the film to be appreciated for what it is, a beautiful ode to love and difference". She reiterated her apology about the tweets she made.
At the2024 Cannes Film Festival, starsKarla Sofía Gascón,Selena Gomez,Adriana Paz, andZoe Saldañacollectively won theBest Actressaward, while directorJacques Audiardwon theJury PrizeandClément DucolandCamillewon theSoundtrack Award. The film was also nominated for thePalme d'Orand theQueer Palm.It was also named one of the Top 10 Films of 2024 by theAmerican Film Institute.
At the97th Academy Awards,Emilia Pérezreceived a leading 13 nominations, includingBest Picture,Best Directorfor Audiard,Best Actressfor Gascón, who is the first openlytrans womanto be nominated in the category, andBest Supporting Actressfor Saldaña.At the82nd Golden Globe Awards,Emilia Pérezwon four awards, includingBest Motion Picture – Musical or ComedyandBest Foreign Language Film, from 10 nominations.Emilia Pérezis also the most-nominated non-English-language film at both ceremonies.
Emilia Pérezreceived 11 nominations at the78th British Academy Film Awards, includingBest Film,Best Director,Best Actress in a Leading Rolefor Gascón, andBest Actress in a Supporting Rolefor both Gomez and Saldaña.The film received three nominations at the31st Screen Actors Guild Awards:Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picturefor Gascón, Gomez, Paz, and Saldaña,Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Rolefor Gascón, andOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Rolefor Saldaña.
Emilia Pérezreceived 13 nominations at the50th César Awards, includingBest Film,Best Director, andBest Actressfor both Gascón and Saldaña.The film also won fiveEuropean Film Awards, includingBest Film,Best Director, andBest Actressfor Gascón.At the30th Critics' Choice Awards, the film received 10 nominations, includingBest Picture,Best Director,Best Actressfor Gascón,Best Supporting Actressfor Saldaña, andBest Acting Ensemble.
The film's domination of award contentions in a heavy aggressive campaign, includingGolden Globeswins andAcademy Awardnominations, was criticized by audiences and awardgoers.Several considered the film's contention as "Oscar bait".Netflix has also been accused of attempting to remove criticism of the film and Gascon by trans critics in order to improve the film's chances at awards ceremonies.