Emilia Pérez

Emilia Pérez is a 2024 musical drama starring Zoe Saldana as Rita, a lawyer that is doing her job until a drug lord kidnaps her and requests for a sex change. Along the way we have Selena Gomez play Jessi, the wife of the drug lord that adjusts to new life with the kids she raised with him after the sex change she doesn't know about. Then of course we have Karla Sofía Gascón play Emilia Pérez, the drug lord that changed gender and continues building her (not "him" anymore) empire.

Most of the story is delivered with musical numbers so if you don't like that type of genre, stay away from it. This film in particular had a very strange effect on me after it finished as I kind of went into it blind and to be honest, that's what you should do because the film in general is very unexpected in some places and quite comedic as well. After the director and cast of the film presented it to us, then the film started and the audience spread laughs and joy to some of the aspects of the film and I appreciate that. The film shines best with it's amazing cinematography (which were jaw dropping to say the least), powerhouse acting from all involved and some of the musical numbers.

Now, why I say "some" of the musical numbers, is because most of them are pretty great and impactful to the story but as the film progressed the musical numbers became a lot less eye popping then before and became cliché because of this. The musical performance at the end was dull in my opinion but I think it sumed up some of the story a little bit. But don't listen to me though, as there's a film for everybody and I genuinely liked some of the elements of this film and I think most of you will too when it comes out soon enough.

Overall, while not as greatly delivered as I hoped, Emilia Pérez is still a cinematic achievement in musical numbers and great acting that really makes the film all the more engaging and fun. If you like musicals, give Emilia Pérez a try, I think it does successfully deliver of what audiences can expect out of it.

Grade: A

London Film Festival opening gala.