Emilia Pérez–A Gender Bender

Emilia Perez was Inspired by both  Boris Razon’s 2018 novel Écoute  and by the opera libretto written by French director Jacques Audiard. The movie also won the 2024 Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and multiple Golden Globes for a musical drama.

Emilia Pérez (Karla Sofía Gascón of Mexican telenovela fame) is a former Mexican cartel leader. Juan “Manitas” Del Monte, who fakes Manitas’s death in order to become her true self as a woman.  Rita Mora Castro (Zoe Saldaña) primarily defends drug lords, those guilty of domestic violence, and murderers.  Drug lord Manitas believes Rita is the only one who can help facilitate his desired gender-confirmation surgery, transitioning to Emilia. 

With her authentic identity now established, Emilia wishes to have a  positive impact on her community through redemptive political and philanthropic projects on the behalf of the countless victims of Mexico’s drug wars.  Emilia knows where many of the victims’ bodies are buried and where the political corruption is.

In one of the film’s centerpiece musical numbers, the action renders the singing as part of the story, carrying the characters’ personality in tone and power.  

Saldaña remarkable performance, “El Mal,” at Emilia’s fund-raising gala, is a song-and-dance that supercharges all the major themes of Emilia Pérez: 

“Changing the body changes the soul/

Changing the soul changes society/

Changing society changes everything!”

Change may be possible for all of us.

Although not a musical fan, this reviewer treated the songs as an underscoring of the drama, tension, and emotion. Emilia Pérez is not for everyone.  Part action-thriller, part personal journey, Emilia Pérez is a brave and pioneering work of gender identity, and  the many manifestations and conflicts of love.

Availability: Netflix

Note:  There is some controversy over the depiction of Mexico, transgender issues, and the use of the imagery of the Virgin Mary.  Arguably, Emilia Pérez could have addressed this subject matter in a more nuanced and sensitive manner.