Breaking the mold is one way to describe the movie Emilia Pêrez. Breaking all of them is more apt. Imagine taking the making of movies, more specifically the making of movie musicals and creating something new, different, in the end probably not completely successful, yet you can’t take your eyes off of it.
Now imagine the story of that movie is about a ruthless Mexican drug cartel leader, who hires a lawyer to seek a sex change operation to become their true self, a woman. Put it all together and it is an intriguing adventure in story and cinematic story telling.
I won’t say it completely holds together, because I’m not sure it does. But it keeps turning in on itself and musical movie making in ways as daring as the titular character’s mission. In that lead role Karla Sofía Gascón is excellent, as are Zoe Saldaña as the lawyer, and Selena Gomez as the wife of the cartel boss.
But, it is Jacques Audiard’s work as a director that stands above all. Unfurling a story of transformation and redemption, this isn’t the first film featuring a story about a trans character, but it is certainly the one that spins out its story this way. I’d call it a pop-opera, but that too simple a definition as is calling it a musical.
The film was controversial when it debuted and won awards at Cannes, and in today’s climate I’m sure it will remain so. Quite frankly, that’s what gives the film some of its allure.
At its heart it is a story of transformation, mashed up with music, love, violence and full of surprise. Again, I’m not sure it holds together completely, but if you’re looking for something that plays around with convention while telling a surprising story, it is more than worth a watch.
Emilia Pêrez is playing on Netflix and you can watch the trailer below.
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