The genre-defying crime dramaEmilia Pérezis now streaming on Netflix, fresh off a highly successful run on the festival circuit. Directed by French visionary Jacques Audiard (Rust and Bone), the movie mixes high-stakes narcotraffic drama with introspective character development, often portrayed through musical numbers. Karla Sofía Gascónleads the cast ofEmilia Pérezas the titular character, who undergoes gender affirmation surgery with the help of Zoe Saldaña’s Rita, a lawyer tired of the daily grind and looking to make a difference in the world.
Despite filming primarily in France,Emilia Péreztakes place in Mexicoand sees its characters travel to Israel, Switzerland, Thailand, and beyond. Those travels help Emilia bury her old self, a cartel kingpin named Manitas, and start over with the dream of redeeming herself for the crimes of the past. As she attempts to reconnect with her widow Jessi (Selena Gomez) and care for her children, she also falls in love with one of the victims of the drug trade that made her rich. Epifanía (played by Adriana Paz) comes to Emilia’s door seeking answers about her disappeared husband, but soon the two women find solace in each other that they never thought possible before.
Emilia Pérez Review: Zoe Saldana’s Spectacular Netflix Crime Musical Melodrama Defies All Genres
Emilia Pérez is a narco crime saga, melodrama, and pop-opera all in one, affecting and thrilling as it teeters between chaos and control.
ScreenRantinterviewed Paz about the contradictions within her character’s first scene, as well as how she approached the gorgeous yet offbeatmusical numbers inEmilia Pérez.The actor also praised Audiard’s collaborative directing style and described some of the work she and Gascón did to explore Emilia and Epifanía’s relationship further.
Emilia Pérez Takes A While To Fully Understand, Even for The Actors
“It was kind of an experiment, but that was nice because nothing was too tight.”
Screen Rant: This movie is a fascinating experience on every level, and I cannot help but wonder how it was presented to you. How did Jacques Audiard describe it, and what did the script look like upon first read?
Adriana Paz: I thought, “What is this? This is so complicated.” In fact, I didn’t understand some scenes. I couldn’t even imagine [it], and I had to read the script two more times. When I saw the movie, I realized that I didn’t understand it [fully] until I saw the scene, and it was even better than I could imagine.
Screen Rant: When your character Epifanía is first introduced, it’s a very tense moment where we don’t know if she wants to attack Emilia or seek comfort from her. Can you talk about her first impression of Emilia and how that relationship grows?
Adriana Paz: Yes, that was something that Jacques and I wanted to work on. I think that scene is full of contradictions inside and out; this moment with the knife, and you don’t know what is going to happen. “Is she going to kill Emilia?” And then you realize, no, but you are not really sure. That emotional rollercoaster that Epifanía is going through is full of contradictions.
It was so hard for me during this journey, but at the same time, it is so easy working with Karla and Jacques because Jacques lets you try and improve in many ways. He’s guiding you, and also he’s discovering things that you’re able to put on the table. And he’s humble enough to say, “Okay, that thing that you did, I didn’t imagine that. Let’s go this way.”
It was kind of an experiment, but that was nice because nothing was too tight. [It wasn’t] like, “You have to do this, and that is what we talked about.” Jacques' way is the opposite. It’s challenging, but at the same time, it’s full of relief and freedom.
Adriana Paz Describes The Emotional Purity Of The Music In Emilia Pérez
“You are feeling the story and the emotions, but when the music comes, it’s beyond your brain.”
Screen Rant: The musical numbers in this movie are so unique because they really are about expressing emotions rather than belting out notes. How did you approach that aspect, and were you frightened ever of having to sing your lines?
Adriana Paz: I love singing, so I was nervous, but also so happy to have the opportunity to sing and to be coached by this amazing team. I think it’s not like any other musical… I love musicals, but in other musicals, the music is a part of the scenes and the story, and in Emilia it’s not.
We weren’t looking for perfection. We were looking for the perfect emotion, or the perfection of the song and the emotion to be together, not just have the perfect note or the perfect movement. Damien Jalet is not that kind of choreographer, but that was amazing because I think the choreography and the music support the story so much. You are feeling the story and the emotions, but when the music comes, it’s beyond your brain. It’s crossing your skin and it goes directly to your heart. It’s like, “Oh my God. What is going on?” And it becomes a whole [sensory] experience.
More About Emilia Pérez (2024)
From renegade auteur Jacques Audiard comes Emilia Pérez, an audacious fever dream that defies genres and expectations. Through liberating song and dance and bold visuals, this odyssey follows the journey of four remarkable women in Mexico, each pursuing their own happiness. The fearsome cartel leader Emilia (Karla Sofía Gascón) enlists Rita (Zoe Saldaña), an unappreciated lawyer stuck in a dead-end job, to help fake her death so that Emilia can finally live authentically as her true self. Written and directed by Audiard (Rust and Bone, A Prophet), the double Cannes-winning film also stars Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, and Édgar Ramírez.
Check out our otherEmilia Pérezinterviews here:
Emilia Pérezis currently playing in select theaters and begins streaming November 13 on Netflix.
Emilia Perez
Cast
Emilia Perez is a drama film that follows the life of Emilia Perez, a determined and ambitious individual striving to make a name for herself in a competitive environment. The story explores her journey as she navigates the challenges and obstacles that come her way, all while uncovering the complexities of her own identity.
