As someone who has always had a soft spot for unconventional narratives and musicals, I found myself drawn to Emilia Perez, streaming now on Netflix. Having watched it with a keen eye and an open heart, I must say that this film is indeed a challenging watch.
If you’ve been wishing for more spectacular musicals on Netflix, you’re in for a treat! Emilia Perez is now available on the platform, and it promises to be quite a journey.
This year, various notable films have garnered attention on the film festival circuit, including The Apprentice, a movie based on the life of Donald Trump, and Heretic, a horror film involving religion featuring Hugh Grant.
Yet, it’s likely that Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez wasn’t on your radar. Making its debut at Cannes, this fresh film embarks on an intricate journey of a gender transition, accompanied by its unique musical score.
As a gaming enthusiast, when I stumbled upon “Emilia Perez” on my Netflix queue, I couldn’t help but wonder, “What’s this show all about?” Here’s my take on it:
Emilia Perez’s plot is complicated
Essentially, Emilia Perez assumes the identity of a Mexican drug lord named Manitas, under the guidance of attorney Rita.
Beyond what meets the eye, there are additional factors at work. Rita, an overworked and underappreciated attorney, has just contributed significantly to her superior’s successful national case. Suddenly, she receives a cryptic phone call from someone who seems to be watching these events unfold, leading to her abduction.
Manitas, the individual in question, has manipulated Rita into aiding him with a transformation. However, this process isn’t as simple as it seems – he needs to orchestrate his own apparent demise due to the numerous rewards on his head. This deception also requires his family, including Emilia Perez, to believe that he has passed away, allowing her to start anew and live freely.
Essentially, here’s the gist of it without giving too much away: Through music, that’s the general storyline. Years have passed since Emilia and Rita last met, and now Emilia is deeply involved in her community and incredibly wealthy to boot.
In this scenario, Emilia has been tasked with a new mission. Instead of revealing herself openly, she will pretend to be Manitas’ long-lost relative as a cover. This might sound absurd, but such situations do occur, often leading to far-reaching implications.
Amidst all this turmoil, there’s an increase in abductions, dismembered body parts, a corruption scandal, numerous vanished individuals believed to be victims of drug gangs, and a secondary plot involving a lesbian relationship, to put it mildly. Plus, everything else you can think of, as the saying goes.
Additionally, it’s important to mention that the film uses Spanish as its primary language, but occasionally includes English and French for added emphasis.
Who’s in it?
I excitedly follow Karla Sofía Gascón as she takes on the role of Manitas/Emilia, with Zoe Saldaña portraying Rita and Selena Gomez bringing Jessi, Manitas’ wife, to life on screen. What a fantastic cast!
The full cast list looks something like this:
- Zoe Saldaña as Rita Mora Castro
- Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia Pérez/Juan “Manitas” Del Monte
- Selena Gomez as Jessi Del Monte
- Adriana Paz as Epifanía Flores
- Mark Ivanir as Dr. Wasserman
- Édgar Ramírez as Gustavo Brun
- James Gerard as Simon
- Eduardo Aladro as Berlinger
- Daniel Velasco-Acosta as Edgar
The ensemble features Shiraz Tzarfati, Agathe Bokja, Lucas Varoclier, Marie-Elisabeth Robert, Eric Geynes, Anabel Lopez, Line Phé, Cyrus Khodaveisi, Yohan Levy, and Jonas Paz-Benavide.
According to whispers, if true, Gascón would become the first nominee assigned female at birth to receive an Academy Award.
She shared with NPR that the production would not have held the same impact if two different actors, one cisgender (identifying with the gender they were assigned at birth) and one transgender, had been cast instead. She advocated for the unique pairing because it was unprecedented, and she believed it was carefully crafted to perfection.
On BBC Radio 1, Gomez admitted she was “more anxious than I’ve ever been for an audition,” explaining, “I understood I needed to embody another character. Everything had to originate from her. I couldn’t be the pop star, even though that may sound a bit cheesy.
It is a true story?
Unsurprisingly, no. According to Audiard, French novel Écoute inspired half of his script.
Guillermo del Toro shared in a conversation that he has a friend named Boris Razon, who’s an author. He has read some of his books, including one titled Écoute. Around halfway through the novel, the main character, a lawyer, encounters a gang leader who requests his assistance in undergoing a transition and changing gender.
As a passionate gamer, I flipped through the pages expecting an engaging continuation of the story, but alas, the author failed to deliver as anticipated. I was taken aback and found myself in disbelief. The next day, I picked up my phone and dialed Boris, inquiring, “Hey Boris, is there any further development planned for the character in your novel?” To my surprise, he responded with a firm “No, that’s it.” Fueled by curiosity and a desire to see the character’s story unfold, I decided to seize the opportunity and take the narrative into my own hands. I ran with the idea.
Turning this into a musical came later for Audiard, adding this idea during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the current scene, there’s a scarcity of modern opera pieces. To address this gap, I’ve endeavored to contribute with my creation, “Emilia.
Is the Netflix movie worth watching?
Emilia Perez is hard to put into words – therefore, prepare for a challenging viewing experience. It’s bound to be something you’ll recall, whether or not you find it appealing.
It seems there’s an overwhelming amount of activity within just a two-hour span, which might be why the storyline becomes quite slim. With 16 musical numbers attempting to intertwine various storylines, the final product can become complex and challenging to comprehend.
To put it frankly, these songs don’t exactly blow me away. Much like how a scene from Glee might suddenly burst into song mid-conversation, they seem more like distractions than additions to the overall narrative.
Indeed, Gascón shines remarkably in this role, making it evident that this is a once-in-a-lifetime part for her. She’s seizing the moment with enthusiasm, while Saldaña and Gomez are holding their own, albeit they seem somewhat overshadowed by her performance (it’s challenging not to).
To certain individuals, Manitas’ transformation might be perceived as disturbing. Emilia Perez links being true to oneself with criminal activities, death, explosion, destruction, and overall darkness. Is this the image we want to portray in mainstream media? Absolutely not. Does the musical provide enough clarity for us to deduce that association? Likely not, either.
Currently, you can find Emilia Perez’s stream available on Netflix. For additional options, explore the newest films streaming this month as well as top picks from the year thus far.
Read More
- SUI PREDICTION. SUI cryptocurrency
- „People who loved Dishonored and Prey are going to feel very at home.” Arkane veteran sparks appetite for new, untitled RPG
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- Destiny 2: A Closer Look at the Proposed In-Game Mailbox System
- Clash Royale Deck Discussion: Strategies and Sentiments from the Community
- Jennifer Love Hewitt Made a Christmas Movie to Help Process Her Grief
- ICP PREDICTION. ICP cryptocurrency
- Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic Was Inspired By Akira And Cowboy Bebop
- Critics Share Concerns Over Suicide Squad’s DLC Choices: Joker, Lawless, and Mrs. Freeze
- EUR IDR PREDICTION
2024-11-13 15:21