| Emilia Pérez | |
| Director: | Jacques Audiard |
| Screenplay: | Jacques Audiard |
| Based On: | |
| Cinematography: | Paul Guilhaume[1] |
| Editing: | Juliette Welfling |
| Distributor: | Pathé |
| Runtime: | 132 minutes |
| Country: | France |
| Language: | |
| Budget: | €25 million[4] |
| Gross: | $8.5 million[5] |
Emilia Pérez is a 2024 French musical crime comedy film written and directed by Jacques Audiard,[6] based on Audiard's opera libretto of the same name, which was in turn loosely adapted from Boris Razon's 2018 novel Écoute.[7] The film stars Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Mark Ivanir, and Édgar Ramírez, and is about a feared cartel leader who enlists a lawyer to help her disappear and achieve her dream of transitioning into a woman. Its original songs were written by Camille, while its original score was provided by Clément Ducol. The choreographic sections of the film are designed by Damien Jalet.
The film premiered on 18 May 2024 at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, and was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or in its main competition section, where it won the Jury Prize and its female ensemble won the Best Actress award. It was theatrically released by Pathé on 21 August 2024. It was selected as the French entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.[8]
Rita Mora Castro, an underappreciated lawyer in Mexico, writes the defense for a murder case involving a prominent media figure's wife, going against her conscience to argue the death as a suicide ("El alegato"). After winning the case, Rita receives an anonymous call with a mysterious but lucrative offer. Reflecting on her discontent, Rita agrees to a meeting ("Todo y nada"). The client, revealed to be cartel kingpin Juan "Manitas" Del Monte, expresses desire to covertly undergo gender-affirming surgery, beginning a new and authentic life ("El encuentro").
After meeting with doctors in Bangkok ("La vaginoplastia") and Tel Aviv ("Lady"), Rita finds a surgeon who agrees to perform the procedure after hearing Manitas' recollections of gender dysphoria during childhood ("Deseo"). Following the procedure, Manitas' children and wife, Jessi, are relocated to Switzerland for their safety; Rita receives an exorbitant sum of money, while Manitas stages a fake death and begins a new life as Emilia Pérez.
Four years later in London, Rita encounters Emilia, who expresses her desire to reunite with her children ("Por casualidad"). Rita brings Jessi and the children back to Mexico City to live with Emilia, introducing her as a distant cousin of Manitas who has volunteered to help raise the children. Jessi does not recognize Emilia and opposes the arrangement, ultimately only agreeing to return to Mexico to reunite with Gustavo Brun, a past lover with whom she had an affair during the later years of her marriage ("Bienvenida").
Adjusting to their new life in Mexico, Rita and Emilia have a chance encounter with the mother of a missing child, which causes Emilia to reflect on her criminal past ("Mis siete hermanos y yo"). Emilia later puts her son to bed, and he confesses he still recognizes her scent ("Papá"). Remorseful, Emilia utilizes her connections with incarcerated cartel members to create a nonprofit that identifies the bodies of cartel victims ("Para"). Rita and Emilia collaborate in growing the nonprofit and recruiting donors, some of which, Rita points out, are dangerous and corrupt ("El mal"). Epifanía, a woman whose abusive husband's remains were identified by the nonprofit, meets with Emilia to confirm his death, and the two later begin a relationship ("El amor").
Meanwhile, Jessi continues rekindling her relationship with Gustavo ("Mi camino") and reveals to Emilia that the two plan to marry and move the family to a new home. When Emilia refers to the children as "mine" and becomes physically aggressive, Jessi flees with the children. After Emilia cuts off Jessi's allowance and threatens Gustavo into leaving Mexico, Jessi and Gustavo kidnap Emilia and demand ransom from Rita. Arriving at the designated location, Rita attempts to negotiate with Gustavo, but a shootout ensues with the security team that Rita has employed and brought to rescue Emilia. Emilia finally reveals her true identity to Jessi by recounting intimate details of their first meeting and their wedding day ("Perdóname"). Gustavo and a confused Jessi load Emilia into the trunk and drive off, but as Jessi slowly comes to realize what has happened, she becomes guilt-ridden and orders Gustavo to pull over, holding him at gunpoint. As the two struggle for the gun, the car veers off the road, killing Gustavo, Jessi, and Emilia.
Rita tearfully informs Jessi's children of what has happened and offers to be their guardian. Epifanía marches in the street singing Emilia's eulogy and celebrating her fight for truth and freedom ("Las damas que pasan").
In January 2022, Télérama released a five-episode program covering in detail Audiard's pre-production process.[10] Audiard developed the screenplay from what was originally intended to be an opera libretto in four acts.[11] The title character was inspired by a chapter from Boris Razon's 2018 novel Écoute.[12] Emilia Pérez marks the first time Audiard has written a film alone. Previous co-writer Thomas Bidegain serves as a creative collaborator.[13]
Clément Ducol composed the original score, while French singer Camille wrote the original songs, with the assistance of a Mexican translator, and performed on the demo. Damien Jalet choreographed the musical sequences. Anthony Vaccarello, of fashion house Yves Saint Laurent, created the costumes.[14]
Production was initially to begin in autumn 2022 but was delayed six months due to varying scheduling conflicts with the cast members.[15] It was originally set to take place on location in Mexico but was moved to a studio near Paris instead, in accordance with Audiard's wishes. The interior scenes included a reconstruction of an "authentic Mexican backdrop". Audiard stated that the studio setting would afford him the ability to "produce more form" and give him "more freedom for the parts that are sung and choreographed."
Principal photography began in May 2023 in the Île-de-France region, before wrapping on 5 July 2023.[16] [17] [18]
The film is produced by Pascal Caucheteux through his company Why Not Productions, and also by Audiard and Valérie Schermann through their company Page 114; in co-production with Pathé, France 2 Cinéma, and Vaccarello's Saint Laurent Productions, a division of Yves Saint Laurent.
See main article: Emilia Pérez (soundtrack). The soundtrack album features the film's original songs performed by cast members Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofia Gascón, Selena Gomez, Mark Ivanir, Adriana Paz and others, as well as the original score composed by Clément Ducol and Camille. The soundtrack was first released digitally on 31 October 2024 by Sony Masterworks.[19] An EP featuring a selection of five songs from the soundtrack–"El Alegato", "Para", "Papá", "El Mal" and "Las Damas que Pasan"–was released earlier on 5 September 2024.[20]
Emilia Pérez was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 18 May 2024.[21] The film received a standing ovation with reports that it lasted either nine minutes[22] or 11 minutes.[23]
Shortly after its premiere, Netflix beat out multiple studios and was in negotiations to acquire distribution rights to the film for North America and the United Kingdom for $12 million; the deal ultimately closed at $8 million instead.[24] [25] [26] The film was theatrically released in France on 21 August 2024 by Pathé.[27] World sales for international distribution were handled by The Veterans.
The film made its North American premiere at the 51st Telluride Film Festival.[28] It played at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2024,[29] and it was also selected in Icons at the 29th Busan International Film Festival to be screened in October 2024.[30] The film has also been selected for the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 under the World Cinema section.[31]
The film received a limited theatrical release in the United States and Canada on 1 November, before debuting on Netflix on 13 November in the US, UK, and Canada.[32]
On AlloCiné, the film received an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars, based on 38 reviews from French critics.[33]
Kevin Maher from The Times rated the film 5 out of 5 stars stating "this mad musical is one of the year's best films.[34]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | 11 January 2025 | Best Picture/Best Movie for Grownups | Emilia Pérez | [35] | |
| Best Director | Jacques Audiard | ||||
| Best Screenwriter | Jacques Audiard, Thomas Bidegain, Nicolas Livecchi | ||||
| Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards | 8 December 2024 | Best Picture | Emilia Pérez | [36] | |
| Best Actress | Karla Sofía Gascón | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress | Selena Gomez | ||||
| Zoe Saldaña | |||||
| Best Director | Jacques Audiard | ||||
| Best Cast Ensemble | Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Mark Ivanir, Adriana Paz, Édgar Ramírez and Zoe Saldaña | ||||
| Best International Feature | Emilia Pérez | ||||
| 8 December 2024 | Best Casting | Christel Baras and Carla Hool | |||
| Best Original Score | Clément Ducol and Camille | ||||
| Best Original Song | "El Mal" – Camille, Clement Ducol, Jacques Audiard, Karla Sofía Gascón and Zoe Saldaña | ||||
| "Mi Camino" – Camille, Clement Ducol, Selena Gomez | |||||
| Camerimage | 23 November 2024 | Golden Frog | Paul Guilhaume | [37] | |
| Bronze Frog | |||||
| Cannes Film Festival | 25 May 2024 | Palme d'Or | Jacques Audiard | [38] | |
| Jury Prize | [39] | ||||
| Best Actress | Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz and Zoe Saldaña | ||||
| Queer Palm | Jacques Audiard | [40] | |||
| Soundtrack Award | Clément Ducol and Camille | [41] | |||
| Capri Hollywood International Film Festival Awards | 2 January 2025 | Best Ensemble Cast | Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz | [42] | |
| Celebration of Cinema and Television | 22 October 2024 | Groundbreaker Award | Zoe Saldaña | [43] | |
| Denver Film Festival | 10 November 2024 | Rare Pearl Award | Jacques Audiard | [44] | |
| Elles Women in Hollywood Celebration | 19 November 2024 | The Risk Takers | Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña | [45] | |
| European Film Awards | 7 December 2024 | European Film | Emilia Pérez | [46] [47] [48] | |
| European Director | Jacques Audiard | ||||
| European Screenwriter | |||||
| European Actress | Karla Sofía Gascón | ||||
| European Editor | Juliette Welfling | ||||
| Glamour Spain Women of the Year Awards | 27 November 2024 | International Actress | Karla Sofía Gascón | [49] | |
| Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards | 14 November 2024 | Hair & Makeup | Julia Floch-Carbonel, Simon Livet and Romain Marietti | [50] | |
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | 20 November 2024 | Best Original Song – Feature Film | "El Mal" – Clement Ducol, Camille, Jacques Audiard and Zoe Saldaña | [51] | |
| "Mi Camino" – Clement Ducol, Camille, Selena Gomez and Édgar Ramírez | |||||
| Song – Onscreen Performance (Film) | "El Mal" – Zoe Saldaña | ||||
| Original Score – Feature Film | Clement Ducol and Camille | ||||
| Music Themed Film, Biopic or Musical | Jacques Audiard, Pascal Caucheteux, Valérie Schermann and Anthony Vaccarello | ||||
| IndieWire Honors | 5 December 2024 | Spotlight Award | Selena Gomez | [52] | |
| Ischia Global Film & Music Festival | 14 July 2024 | Ischia Global Breakout Actress of the Year Award | Karla Sofía Gascón | [53] | |
| Middleburg Film Festival | 20 October 2024 | Spotlight Actor Award | Zoe Saldaña | [54] | |
| Special Achievement in Music Award | Clément Ducol and Camille | [55] | |||
| Mill Valley Film Festival | 16 October 2024 | Outstanding Ensemble Performance | Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Mark Ivanir, Adriana Paz, Édgar Ramírez and Zoe Saldaña | [56] | |
| Audience Favorite ¡Viva el cine! | Emilia Pérez | [57] | |||
| New Orleans Film Festival | 22 October 2024 | Narrative Feature | [58] | ||
| Ordre des Arts et des Lettres | 3 October 2024 | Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres | Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Édgar Ramírez and Zoe Saldaña | [59] | |
| Palm Springs International Film Festival | 3 January 2025 | Vanguard Award | Jacques Audiard, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Édgar Ramírez and Zoe Saldaña | [60] | |
| San Sebastian International Film Festival | 28 September 2024 | Sebastiane Award | Emilia Pérez | [61] | |
| Audience Award | [62] | ||||
| Santa Barbara International Film Festival | 15 February 2025 | American Riviera Award | Zoe Saldaña | [63] | |
| Virtuoso Award | Karla Sofía Gascón | [64] | |||
| Selena Gomez | |||||
| SCAD Savannah Film Festival | 2 November 2024 | Distinguished Performance Award | Karla Sofía Gascón | [65] | |
| Vanguard Award | Zoe Saldaña | [66] | |||
| Seville European Film Festival | 16 November 2024 | Puerta América Award | Emilia Pérez | [67] | |
| Stockholm International Film Festival | 19 November 2024 | FIPRESCI Best Film | [68] [69] | ||
| Audience Award | |||||
| Toronto International Film Festival | 15 September 2024 | TIFF Variety Artisan Award | Clément Ducol and Camille | [70] | |
| People's Choice Award | Emilia Pérez | [71] |