Writer/Director: Jacques Audiard
Starring: Zoe Saldana, Karla Gascon and Selena Gomez
‘A Marvellous Musical’
Transgender communities are rarely depicted with respect in movies. Hollywood has mistreated queer people climbing big mountains. On a personal level, I saw struggle of a transgender cousin. Years ago, I saw a gay cousin that sought to change his gender in Toronto. A wallflower teenager, he enjoyed engaging in activities for the opposite gender. An unusual boy, he found joy engaging in activities girls would enjoy. Fond of wearing feminine attire, he was a person my entire family would admire. It didn’t take long before I bonded with a cousin keeping sexual identity a secret. Unaware that he was queer, I grew up to care about a cousin motivating me to conquer every fear. I became fond of a queer cousin that I would love to call by the name. However, sexuality ended bonds forever. When my cousin revealed he was transgender, my family shunned him forever. While my cousin believed it was about time to reveal he was gay, it came with a price to pay. His controversial choice to become transgender in a country banning same-sex marriage caused outrage. Against wishes of his family, he grew hair long in an attempt to change his identity. It only took a matter of days before he went from a family member to a stranger. No longer a commemorated relative I had grown to adore, he became a complete outsider I didn’t recognize anymore. Years later, I lost contact with a cousin seeking to change gender.
Few films I’ve seen have captured ways transgender people behave as powerfully as “Emilia Perez”. Released in 2024, Jacque Audiard’s Oscar-nominated movie honoured transgender communities. Packed with bold music, engaging storytelling and strong acting, it’s one of the best movies of 2024. At the centre of it all is Zoe Saldana, who embodies a lawyer facing a dilemma. Although “Emilia Perez” is magnificent, it isn’t a flawless film. It suffers from uneven pacing. Nevertheless, it offers bold entertainment that honours LGBTQ communities.
Set in Mexico City, “Emilia Perez” follows a transgender causing tragedy. Zoe Saldana portrays Rita Castro, a fierce attorney. Rita’s life changes when she is hired by a drug leader seeking to change gender. Manitas (Karla Sofia Gascon) is a cartel leader eager to become a transgender. However, what appears to be a simple task turns dangerous when Rita discovers consequences of changing gender. Faced with a dilemma, Rita wonders whether she would ever be able to fulfill the requests of a gangster that causes trauma.
Jacques Audiard is a newcomer to stories of transgender people. A fantastic French filmmaker, Audiard achieved fame for making romantic dramas. With “Emilia Perez”, however, Audiard created his first LGBTQ drama. It was the filmmaker’s attempt to capture the big barriers faced by transgender people, but he succeeded. Evoking Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight”, Audiard uses point-of-view shots to capture the grim hardships that a transgender activist goes through. For instance, point-of-view shots enhance the doctor visit scene. During this tense scene, Manitas confesses his strong desire to change his gender to a doctor. It brought back fond memories of my bond with a cousin that expressed desire to change his gender identity. Point-of-view shots are tricky techniques. As Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me By Your Name” proved, point-of-view shots elevate LGBTQ movies capturing queer lovers. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through stunning visuals, Audiard captures the frightening hardships which transgender people are facing.
Another admired aspect of “Emilia Perez” that deserves appreciation is the production. Audiard stages stunning musical numbers capturing the struggles transgender individuals are facing. Inspired by Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land”, Audiard uses magical realism to stage musical numbers about transgender people that are captivating. For instance, magical realism enhances the “Por Casualidad” number. During this memorable scene, Emilia reveals her identity to a shocked Rita in a meeting after years of separation. It reminded me of my shocked reaction when my cousn revealed his secret transgender identity leaving our relationships deteriorated. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Clement Ducol’s music is integral to the film’s success. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that transgender people bear. Through commemorated production-design, Audiard captures transgender people whose lives decline.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Emilia Perez” is a classic about transgender people that’s compelling. In Hollywood, most movies often depict transgender people as victims of their identity unable to overcome adversity. For instance, Jean Marc Vallee’s “Dallas Buyers Club” depicted a transgender woman becoming the victim of the AIDS crisis. Thankfully, though, “Emilia Perez” avoids these pitfalls. Evoking Saim Sadiq’s “Joyland”, Audiard uses silence to capture a transgender person drifting apart from family. For instance, silence elevates the “Perdoname” musical number. During this unforgettable scene, Emilia confesses sexual identity to her former wife Jessi. It reminded me of my broken bonds with my cousin when he revealed he was transgender leaving my family conflicted. Silence is tricky technique. As Celina Sciamma’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” suggested, silence elevates films about lesbians. Nevertheless, it works in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Audiard honours transgender people today.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Zoe Saldana delivers one of her best career performances are Rita. Saldana achieved recognition for playing heroines in comic-book blockbusters. With “Emilia Perez”, however, she took on her most complex role. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her before: intense, emotional and vulnerable in her most iconic role. Saldana showcased flair for singing that she hadn’t shown before in her career. With riveting expressions, she captures the angst, determination and grief of a lawyer seeking to assist a transgender. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most commemorated Spanish actresses working today.
Karla Sofia Gascon is riveting as a drug cartel leader seeking to commit gender surgeries causing trauma. Drawing from her own personal experience as a transgender artist, Gascon created a powerful portrait of a person seeking to change gender. As Manitas, Gascon uses strong expressions to capture hardships that transgender people go through. Whether she’s expressing her strong desire to change her gender or attempting to reconnect with her estranged daughter, Gascon uses commemorated expressions to create a powerful portrait of a transgender. It’s a phenomenal performance that honours transgender communities.
Finally, “Emilia Perez” will earn everyone’s appreciation for honouring transgender communities facing trauma. Unlike most movies about the transgender community, it tackles themes everyone would relate to. It discusses themes such as identity, gender and marriage. It delivers a strong message about sexual identity which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Emilia Perez” is one of those rare movies everyone would adore.
Although “Emilia Perez” is a captivating musical, it can’t quite honour experiences of transgender people facing trauma. Audiard’s decision to integrate subplots about drug cartels is bold but it hinders the pacing. Due to this faulty decision, scenes capturing Manitas’ interactions with drug cartels aren’t as engaging as his journey to change his gender identity. As Ridley Scott’s “The Counselor” suggested, subplots about drug cartels elevate crime dramas. Therefore, “Emilia Perez” can’t capture hardships faced by transgender communities in the modern era.
Nevertheless, fans of Zoe Saldana will definitely appreciate “Emilia Perez” and so will movie-goers seeking meaningful entertainment. A captivating drama, it honours transgender communities that face a dilemma.
A powerful portrait of hardships faced by Mexican transgender women whose lives deteriorate, it’s a dazzling reminder about power of Cinema as an art-form that can educate people about the tensions faced by LGBTQ communities whose stories audiences appreciate.
As strong as Manitas’ desire to change gender, it has inspired me to move on years after ending relationships with a cousin whose decision to become a transgender in a country where all the odds were stacked against his favour left my family heartbroken forever by honouring a person that inspired me to become a writer.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 