By Mansi M.
Toronto International Film Festival
Emilia Pérez directed by Jacques Audiard was presented at the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto. The popularity of the film resulted in several additional screenings at the festival and won the first runner up People’s Choice Award at TIFF. The film takes the form of a French musical, blending rock, reggaeton and R&B to create a vibrant and uplifting atmosphere.
Rita Moro Castro, played by Zoe Saldana, is a Mexican defense lawyer, who finds herself trapped in a career where she does not feel appreciated. A boss Juan “Manitas” Del Monte hires Rita to help change her into a new person, Emilia Pérez. Little does she know that the emergence of Emilia and her family will profoundly affect Rita’s own life.
In this captivating film, the boundaries between genres blur with musical notes intertwining with suspense. A big part of the dramatic tension in the film hinges on Juan going unrecognized by her former wife, played by Selena Gomez, and kids. Emilia is a very complicated character in this emotionally charged narrative.
Women step into the spotlight, wielding their influence to reshape the very fabric of their world. Amid the complexities of their lives, they strive to make a positive impact—a delicate dance between personal struggles and global aspirations. And at the heart of it all stands our transgender protagonist, straddling the boundary between the familiar past and the uncharted future.
Besides Saldana, the film stars Gomez, Adriana Paz, and Karla Sofía Gascón, an ensemble that collectively received the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival this year.
