2 May 2025: Spanish Tutor/LLA Jason writes about the film Emilia Pérez
So, What’s the Deal with Emilia Pérez?
If you’ve been keeping up with award season, then you’ve no doubt heard the name. Helmed by French director Jacques Audiard, it was released in the fall of 2024 to critical acclaim, to the confusion of many moviegoers. It’s had its fair share of controversies (which I won’t get too into) and discussion, so I wanted to see for myself how it was. It was definitely a movie, to say the least. Before I continue on with my review, Emilia Pérez is currently available on Netflix, and it’s worth noting that if you plan on watching the movie, it deals with some heavy topics such as gender identity and gang violence. Also, everything stated here is my personal opinion, so feel free to disagree.
Let’s just get the big thing out of the way, this did not have to be a musical. I felt the musicality cheapened a lot of the impact that these topics could have had. It could have been at least forgivable if the songs were creative and recognizable, but they often fell flat and were memorable for the wrong reasons. That being said, in my opinion, the movie did not handle any of its overarching themes well, partly due to it being a musical. Part of that problem was that the movie wanted to tackle too many topics at once.
Off the top of my head, it wants to discuss gender identity, gang violence, repentance, and more, but it confronts all of them with the “depth of a puddle,” to quote a popular Google review. It’s trying to tell so many stories at once, to the point where it fails to address any of them with the sensitivity and nuance they deserve. It also lacks the cultural sensitivity needed for a movie so supposedly tied to its setting. Issues like disappearances and corruption are real issues affecting Mexico, but the movie treats them with little sensitivity. Many Spanish speakers also point out that the Spanish used in the film seemed to mix Spaniard-Spanish and Mexican-Spanish, further adding to its perceived insensitivity to Mexican culture. Director controversy aside, It just serves to show the lack of respect for the story it supposedly wants to tell.
To me, the movie’s more disappointing than anything. It could have been an excellent commentary on the struggles of transgender women and the repentance of someone who has hurt so many. Everything about it felt half-baked, and if properly addressed and directed, it could have been so meaningful. But the movie just acts like it does without anything to show for it. Now, Emilia Pérez stands as a movie mired with flaws that the academy seems to adore, much to the confusion of the general public.