Jacques Audiard's 'Emilia Perez' Takes Cannes by Storm
- Jacques Audiard's unique film 'Emilia Perez' surprises attendees at the Cannes Film Festival.
- The buzzed-about movie was initially thought to be an unlikely concept but has received positive attention.
- The trans Mexican drug lord musical stands out in the festival lineup.
In Cannes, France, a movie called "Emilia Perez" created a buzz at the Cannes Film Festival. The movie stars Zoe Saldaña as Rita, a lawyer from Mexico City. Rita is hired by a cartel leader named Manitas to help him escape Mexico for gender confirmation surgery. This leads to a unique relationship between Rita and Emilia Perez, played by Karla Sofía Gascón. Surprisingly, the movie is also a musical. The director, Jacques Audiard, explained that the idea for the movie came to him while reading a novel about a criminal who wanted to change his identity. Despite the unusual plot, "Emilia Perez" received attention at Cannes. The film features well-known actors like Gomez and Saldaña, but Gascón's performance as both Manitas and Emilia stood out. Gascón, a 52-year-old transgender actress, hoped that Emilia would be seen beyond just being a trans character. The movie's mix of different elements and tones might be overwhelming for some viewers, but Audiard found this aspect appealing. He described the movie as a kind of opera and expressed his desire to create a musical. Despite initial doubts, Gascón's portrayal of the characters added depth to the story. Overall, "Emilia Perez" brought a unique and thought-provoking experience to the Cannes Film Festival.