The highly-anticipated movie-musical Emilia Pérez, which received a resounding standing ovation at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, is gearing up for an extensive awards campaign. The film is set to kick off the season with the Golden Globes on January 5, where it boasts an impressive 10 nominations. Directed by Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez stars Selena Gomez from “Only Murders in the Building,” Zoe Saldaña, Adriana Paz, and Karla Sofía Gascón, who all shared the Best Actress award at Cannes.
In the film, Gascón portrays the titular character, Emilia Pérez, a powerful cartel leader who seeks assistance for gender-affirming surgery. She turns to lawyer Rita, played by Saldaña, to help her transition into a new identity as Emilia. This transformation involves staging her death to escape her past. Despite achieving her desired freedom, Emilia grapples with longing for her wife, Jessi (played by Gomez), and their children. Unbeknownst to Jessi and the kids, who believe Emilia to be deceased, Rita steps in once again to aid Emilia in reuniting with her family.
Emilia Pérez defies simple categorization in terms of genre, as Gascón describes it as “an operatic musical” according to Netflix. The film not only showcases stunning performances but also leaves a lasting impact on its cast. Gomez expressed her pride in the project, stating, “I’m doing more than I give myself credit for. So I’m really proud of this project,” during an interview with ELLE.com at the Toronto International Film Festival.
For those eager to watch Emilia Pérez from the comfort of their homes, the film initially premiered in select U.S. theaters on November 1, 2024. It subsequently became available for streaming on Netflix just two weeks later, on November 13. As of January 5, the movie remains accessible for viewing with a Netflix subscription.
Viewers can catch Emilia Pérez on Netflix, a captivating tale that intertwines themes of identity, family, and redemption against a backdrop of mesmerizing music and powerful performances.
