Festivals - Cannes 2024: The Bold and Musical World of Emilia Pérez

By Mulder, Cannes, Palais des Festivals, 18 may 2024

Emilia Pérez is a 2024 musical crime comedy film written and directed by Jacques Audiard. The film stars Karla Sofía Gascón in the title role, with supporting performances by Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, and Édgar Ramírez. Camille, the French singer, contributed original songs to the film, while Clément Ducol provided the original score. The film’s choreographic sequences were crafted by Damien Jalet, adding a distinct artistic touch.

The plot of Emilia Pérez revolves around a woman who is tasked with assisting an escaped Mexican cartel leader. In a desperate attempt to evade the authorities and affirm her gender identity, she undergoes sex reassignment surgery. This transformation is central to the narrative, exploring themes of identity, survival, and self-affirmation.

Karla Sofía Gascón plays the dual role of Emilia Pérez and Juan "Small Hands" Del Monte, bringing a nuanced performance to this complex character. Selena Gomez portrays Jessi, Zoe Saldaña takes on the role of Rita Moro Castro, and Édgar Ramírez appears as Gustavo. The cast also includes Mark Ivanir as Dr. Wasserman, Adriana Paz as Epifania, James Gerard, Shiraz Tzarfati, Agathe Bokja, Marie-Elisabeth Robert, Eric Geynes, Anabel Lopez, Eduardo Aladro, Line Phé, Cyrus Khodaveisi, Yohan Levy, and Jonas Paz-Benavides.

The production of Emilia Pérez began in January 2022 when Télérama released a five-episode program detailing Jacques Audiard's pre-production process. Initially, the film was meant to be an opera libretto in four acts. The screenplay was inspired by a chapter from Boris Razon's 2018 novel, Écoute. This project marks the first time Audiard has written a film on his own, although he collaborated creatively with Thomas Bidegain, who has co-written several of Audiard's previous films.

Filming was initially scheduled to begin in the autumn of 2022 but was delayed by six months due to scheduling conflicts among the cast members. Originally planned to be shot on location in Mexico, the production was moved to a studio near Paris, aligning with Audiard's vision. He believed that the studio setting would allow for more artistic freedom, particularly for the musical and choreographed segments. Principal photography commenced in May 2023 in the Île-de-France region and concluded on July 5, 2023.

The film's music plays a significant role in its storytelling. Clément Ducol composed the original score, while Camille wrote and performed the original songs, with assistance from a Mexican translator for the demo recordings. Damien Jalet's choreography brought the musical sequences to life, adding a dynamic visual element to the film.

Emilia Pérez is produced by Pascal Caucheteux through Why Not Productions, and co-produced by Audiard and Valérie Schermann through their company Page 114. The film is also a co-production with France 2 Cinéma and Mexico's Pimienta Films. In February 2024, Saint Laurent Productions, a division of the fashion house Yves Saint Laurent led by Anthony Vaccarello, joined as a co-producer. Vaccarello also designed the film's costumes, infusing the production with a high-fashion aesthetic.

The film premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2024, where it was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or and the Queer Palm. The premiere was met with critical acclaim, culminating in a nine-minute standing ovation from the audience. Emilia Pérez is scheduled for theatrical release in France on August 28, 2024, distributed by Pathé.

World sales for Emilia Pérez are managed by The Veterans. With its compelling storyline, outstanding performances, and rich artistic contributions, Emilia Pérez is poised to be a significant cultural and cinematic milestone. The film's unique blend of musical, crime, and comedy elements, combined with its exploration of profound themes, sets it apart as a notable achievement in contemporary cinema.

Synopsis :
Overqualified and overexploited, Rita uses her talents as a lawyer in the service of a big firm more interested in laundering criminals than serving justice. But an unexpected way out opens up for her: to help cartel boss Manitas get out of the business and carry out the plan he's been hatching in secret for years: to finally become the woman he's always dreamed of being.

Emilia Pérez
Written and directed by Jacques Audiard
Produced by Jacques Audiard, Pascal Caucheteux, Valérie Schermann, Anthony Vaccarello
Starring Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, Édgar Ramírez
Cinematography : Paul Guilhaume
Edited by Juliette Welfling
Music by Clément Ducol (score), Camille (songs)
Production companies : Why Not Productions, Page 114, Pimienta Films, France 2 Cinéma, Saint Laurent Productions
Distributed by Pathé (France)
Release dates : 18 May 2024 (Cannes), 28 August 2024 (France)
Running time : 130 minutes