Jacques Audiard’s latest film, Emilia Pérez, is an overly ambitious musical drama that fails to deliver on its bold ideas. Despite an interesting premise, the film is a confusing, disorienting experience that lacks heart and coherence.
What Is Emilia Pérez About?
Emilia Pérez tells the story of a Mexican drug lord, Manitas del Monte (played by Karla Sofia Gascón), who undergoes gender-affirming surgery and transitions into a new identity as Emilia Pérez. The film starts with Rita (Zoe Saldana), a civil defense attorney, who is kidnapped by Manitas to help her find a doctor for the surgery. The plot quickly becomes chaotic and surreal, with musical numbers and strange twists that push the story into unpredictable and sometimes absurd territory.
A Musical Drama with Too Much Going On
The film starts off as a musical, but its tone is all over the place. It opens with Rita attending a trial, disillusioned by the justice system. Soon after, she is kidnapped by Manitas, who is desperate to transition. From here, the film spirals into a series of outlandish events, including a bizarre musical number about gender confirmation surgeries. As the plot unfolds, Emilia Pérez undergoes surgery and struggles with her identity, all while the film throws in more twists, including a subplot involving Rita’s return and new developments in Emilia’s journey.
Despite some strong performances—especially from Karla Sofia Gascón as Emilia—the film feels like it’s trying to do too much at once. It seems like Audiard is trying to make a statement about identity and transformation, but the story becomes so messy and overstuffed that it loses its emotional impact.
A Tonal Disaster
The biggest problem with Emilia Pérez is its tone. The film swings wildly between melodrama, comedy, and action, without ever finding a consistent rhythm. The musical numbers, while unique, feel forced and out of place. Selena Gomez plays Manitas’ wife, Jessi, but her character feels underdeveloped and her subplot—about a new lover—is weak and unnecessary. These distractions take away from the more important themes of the film, leaving viewers unsure of what the film is truly trying to say.
Missed Opportunities and Lack of Depth
While the film touches on important issues like gender identity and personal transformation, it fails to explore them in a meaningful way. There is little depth to Emilia’s character, and we never truly understand her desires, struggles, or passion for her country. Rita’s role also feels disconnected from Emilia’s story, making it difficult to feel invested in their relationship. As the film progresses, the narrative becomes more chaotic, and by the time the third act arrives, the film feels like it’s just going through the motions with more action and melodrama.
A Lack of Sensitivity and Understanding
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of Emilia Pérez is its treatment of gender identity. The film misgenders Emilia at several points and does not handle her transition with the sensitivity or respect it deserves. Instead of offering a thoughtful exploration of trans identity, the film reduces it to a plot device, with Emilia’s transition treated almost like the death of her previous identity. This lack of understanding makes the film feel shallow and insensitive.
Emilia Pérez
Emilia Pérez is a messy, overambitious film that tries to tackle big themes but ultimately fails to deliver. The plot is disjointed, the tone is all over the place, and the treatment of its characters—especially its trans character—feels out of touch. While the performances are strong in places, especially from Gascón, the film lacks the depth and heart needed to make it meaningful. It’s a musical that is more about spectacle than substance, leaving audiences frustrated and confused rather than moved.
