Emilia Pérez review: Is Netflix’s awards contender worth the hype?

As a longtime cinephile who has seen my fair share of cinematic masterpieces and trainwrecks alike, I can confidently say that Emilia Pérez is a movie that will leave you scratching your head in both confusion and wonder.

Emilia Pérez is one of those movies that you have to see to believe.

This film seems like an unlikely blend – it’s a captivating Spanish-language melodrama-crime-romance production, taking place in a fictitious Mexican setting, helmed by a renowned French director, with big-name Hollywood actors gracing the screen.

This film is a bit divisive – some viewers find it utterly absurd at times, yet it’s consistently bold, innovative, edgy, and visually captivating. Despite its significant shortcomings, the remarkable acting by Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón may compel you to stick around.

The fantastical soap opera-like film, “Emilia Pérez,” which has sparked much debate this season, presents an unprecedented concept in a time when Hollywood tends to favor the familiar. But is it sufficient on its own?

The film begins with notorious cartel boss Juan ‘Manitas’ Del Monte (Gascón), intrigued by a chapter from Boris Razon’s 2018 novel Écoute, approaching overburdened lawyer Rita Mora Castro (Saldaña) to help devise a pivotal escape strategy.

In the film, Manitas is portrayed as yearning to leave the criminal underworld and embrace Emilia Pérez, her genuine self. It’s crucial to note that this transformation isn’t about hiding behind a female persona to dodge justice; rather, Manitas is a trans woman who has been denied the chance to live honestly up until now.

Following a large financial pledge, Rita organizes everything required for Manitas’ gender-confirming operation and orchestrates a staged scenario of Manitas’ demise.

Yet, some time passed, Emilia contacts Rita once more for aid in bringing Emilia back together with her spouse Jessi (portrayed by the star of “Only Murders in the Building,” Selena Gomez), and their children who continue to think the crime boss has perished.

In a unique, almost exaggerated narrative style, this story unfolds as if it were a musical from an art house cinema, featuring a humorous segment where characters enthusiastically sing about private body parts and medical operations.

As a gamer diving into this strange, captivating world, the stunning visuals and mind-blowing action sequences certainly pull me in. Yet, what truly roots the narrative is the powerful acting that brings the story to life.

In the film “Emilia Pérez”, Saldaña demonstrates a versatile performance that perfectly suits each scene, even the most outlandish ones. She excels not only in acting but also in dance, song, and fluently delivers her lines in Spanish. After her consistently impressive work in blockbuster franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and “Avatar”, it’s about time she receives the recognition she deserves for this role.

The star of the show, however, is Karla Sofía Gascón as the titular character.

This year’s first openly transgender actress to win Best Actress at Cannes Film Festival, the Spanish performer, delivers an intricate, captivating, and potentially career-defining role. When the script falls short, Gascón’s performance more than compensates.

In parts, the grand aspirations of the film might not be sufficient to keep all elements coherent, especially during the latter portion of the narrative. At times, writer and director Jacques Audiard struggle to maintain command over their complex production, revealing numerous imperfections.

Despite the apparent homage to Almodóvar’s style, the film Emilia Pérez falls short when it comes to adequately portraying its strong foursome of female characters, as it strives to convey a powerful message about the appalling violence against women in Mexico.

The film seems to promote unity among women, encourage self-identity acceptance, and provide a pathway for redemption. However, these messages can sometimes appear hollow or superficial at their best. Worst case scenario, as some critics argue, the movie perpetuates outdated perspectives on transgender women.

Regardless of its flaws, there’s a remarkable strength in the movie’s ability to avoid self-destruction – it consistently stands tall and maintains belief in the vision it presents, something not all films can achieve with such unwavering determination.

Emilia Pérez is released on Netflix on November 13.

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2024-11-12 11:49