EMILIA PEREZ: REFLECTIONS ON AUDIARD’S MASTERPIECE

★★★★★★★★★★ (10/10)

Emilia Perez is an exhilarating film that keeps you on the edge of your seat—a creation that is original, profound, and captivating.

The question that naturally arises is: how do themes like inclusion, discrimination, the disappearance of human beings in Mexico, and love in all its forms come together harmoniously? And more importantly, how do they fit into a passionate, ensemble-driven musical? The answer lies in Emilia Perez, where all of this comes together perfectly.

This film has it all, even though its themes may seem, at first glance, to be so far apart—at least in cinematic terms.

“It’s my husband! It’s my husband!” shouts a fantastic and inspired Selena Gomez in a pivotal moment of the film. It’s a cry of love that transcends the twists of life, the pain, the transformations, and the defeats that life throws at us. A searing cry that pierces the depths of our hearts, making us reflect on what kind of society, families, and workplaces we want to see in today’s world. Places of acceptance, respect for diversity, openness, forgiveness, understanding, and empathy.

We know this is just a film, but a film can teach us so much. Themes of fatherhood, being someone’s child, a society that forces us to wear the masks literature has described for centuries, and the harrowing reality of desaparecidos in Mexico and other parts of the world (human beings whose stories remain unanswered for their loved ones) are just some of the profound subjects Emilia Perez tackles with mastery.

The inclusion of musical elements only enhances the uniqueness of this work, which fearlessly and unapologetically forges a bold new kind of cinema. The performances by the actresses are outstanding, each better than the next, and though their screen time may not be equal, they are all equally powerful and of the highest caliber. The cinematography, structure, context, and the alternation of slower moments with sequences of breathtaking speed are all expertly orchestrated by a director who has outdone himself this time.

Our hope is that this film will win as many awards as possible—a wish born of genuine love. We encourage everyone to see it, preferably in a quiet theater, free of the distracting crunch of popcorn around your head, because the magic of this film lies in experiencing every detail, every spoken or whispered word, and every glance the protagonists so masterfully deliver.

Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofia Gascón, and Selena Gomez form a brilliantly balanced and stunningly effective trio that immerses us in a world we never want to leave, even as the credits roll. With the hope that many modern films—and even film schools and academy courses—draw inspiration from this masterpiece by director Audiard, we conclude this piece.

May a part of Rita, Emilia, and Jessi (their names in the film) always stay with us.

First photo courtesy of Canal22.

Poster by IMP Awards

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