Emilia Pérez boasts three incredible lead actresses, captivating musical performances, and an extremely emotional story.
Emilia Pérez is a lot of genres mashed into one, but not in a way that becomes too much or too convoluted. It is a crime thriller, it is a musical, and it is a redemption story. To say this movie surprised me is an understatement. I went into it not really knowing what to expect but was very happy that I saw it on the big screen. With three incredible lead performances and impressive musical numbers that play like a stage show, this movie is a spectacle in the best way.
Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, and Selena Gomez impress over and over again, each bringing something unique and captivating to this heartwarming story. When a terrifying crime boss (Gascón) is finally able to realize her true self thanks to the help of Rita (Saldaña). she must leave behind her wife and her children, something that proves a lot easier said than done.
Emilia Pérez is unapologetically itself, much like the title character. One of the most touching things about this film is that it never, not once, uses the word Trans, yet tells the incredibly brave story that is sure to inspire many viewers. As an ally, I cannot relate or speak to the authenticity of this story, but I can appreciate how it is unafraid to fully dive in.
The musical numbers in this film play out like a stage show. Everything takes a step back, allowing the singing, dancing, and performances to shine. All three female leads are phenomenal during these sequences. The entire story is powerful, but these moments especially are sure to stick with audiences for a while.
The overall message of Emilia Pérez is redemption. Pérez was a ruthless cartel leader and did some awful things before she was able to fully become who she always knew she was. It is in these moments that she tries, more than anything, to make up for her past and her bad deeds, but doing good ones.
This is touching and heartwarming, however, it is difficult to run from your past successfully, making the final moments of this film anxiety-driven and — without spoilers — hard to watch at times. It is shocking, emotional, and moved me to tears.
That said, Emilia Pérez is not perfect. It is a little too long, with a few places that it certainly could have been tightened up. The film clocks in at two hours and twelve minutes, but I believe it would have been just as impactful, if not more so, at just under two hours. Because of the length, the heavy topics, and having a lot of dialogue at times, the movie does drag here and there.
Overall, however, Emilia Pérez is a powerful and inspirational movie. It is intriguing and captivating with musical numbers that will have viewers enthralled. The cinematography is astounding. It might not be perfect, but it is something truly special.
Three incredible lead performances, some truly breathtaking musical numbers, and a story that champions the ability to be able to change and make up for past mistakes, this movie is unapologetically itself – much like Emilia.
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About Emilia Perez
From renegade auteur Jacques Audiard comes Emilia Pérez, an audacious fever dream that defies genres and expectations.
Through liberating song and dance and bold visuals, this odyssey follows the journey of four remarkable women in Mexico, each pursuing their own happiness.
The fearsome cartel leader Emilia (Karla Sofía Gascón) enlists Rita (Zoe Saldaña), an unappreciated lawyer stuck in a dead-end job, to help fake her death so that Emilia can finally live authentically as her true self.
Emilia Perez comes to select theaters on November 1 and Netflix on November 13.
Emilia Perez boasts three incredible lead actresses, captivating musical performances, and an extremely emotional story.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.