Emilia Perez – Movie Review
First Reaction – Emilia Perez brings an important subject matter to light, even if it is about a questionable person.
Where to Watch
Emilia Perez is available to watch on Netflix now.
Director: Jacques Audiard
Writer: Jacques Audiard (Screenplay)
Writer: Boris Razon (Novel)
Cast
- Zoe Saldana (Guardians of the Galaxy)
- Karla Sofia Gascon (The Noble Family)
- Selena Gomez (Springbreakers)
- Adriana Paz (Spectre)
- Edgar Ramirez (Borderlands)
Plot: In Mexico, a lawyer receives an unexpected offer to help a feared cartel boss retire from his business and disappear forever by becoming the woman he’s always dreamed of being.
Runtime: 2 Hours 12 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Emilia Perez starts when lawyer Rita Moro Castro (Saldana) receives an unexpected call from a cartel boss Manitas Del Monte (Gascon). He wants to retire from the business, disappear and become a woman. Rita must research the procedures and find the best option for Manitas to have it done without the world seeing it.
Four years later, the two meet again, Emilia has finished her transition and started a fresh life. Meanwhile, Rita has her own life, but Emilia needs another favour, to bring her family to her. However, they never knew about her decision.
Verdict on Emilia Perez
Recap
The movie follows a lawyer who gets an offer to help a cartel member go into hiding by transiting to a woman. However, years later, she wants to be reunited with her family and she must help her reconnect and reveal her secret to them.
Best Parts
On the positive, we get the support given to somebody who wants to go through a sex change. It shows what everyone involved must go through and unlike most, we see the long-term effects of doing it in secret. The sense of feeling like an outsider while getting reunited with your family is the highlight of the film. It shows the emotional impact and the known fact that the secret is important.
Worst Parts
When we dive into the negative side, the big one must be why the cartel boss gets the support they do. They go into hiding and the sex change is their disguise, but not enough is made of their previous actions even if they do try to start making amends for things.
Performances
In the performances, we get strong performances from the whole cast. Karla Sofia Gascon is fantastic and seeing Zoe Saldana in a less flashy role shows more depth than the blockbuster she is most known for. Selena Gomez gives a career best too, with the supporting cast being great to watch too.
Final Thoughts –Emilia Perez is an entertaining story, with an important subject matter.
