It’s the story in songs – signed by Clément Ducol and Camille – of a Mexican drug lord who disappears and changes sex. From the most violent masculinity of a cartel boss, he passes to the gentlest femininity of a transgender heroine: it is Emilia Perezsigned Jacques Audiard.
The film marked the 2024 Cannes Film Festival with two major awards: the Special Jury Prize and a collective award for the interpretation of the four actresses, Selena Gomez, Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña and Adriana Paz. These distinctions immediately placed the film in the spotlight.
In early December, in Lucerne, Switzerland, at the European Film Awards, Audiard’s musical drama won best film, best director and best screenplay. Karla Sofía Gascón, who plays the main character, Emilia Pérez, won the best actress award, becoming the first transgender performer to win this category. This European success confirms the impact of the film outside the Hollywood sphere, towards which all eyes are now turned.
Oscar nominee
Emilia Perez is France’s official candidate for the Oscars in the category of best foreign feature film. It is also shortlisted in five major categories, including Best Original Music and Best Original Song. This shows strong potential to appeal to American voters. If the final selection scheduled for January 17, before the ceremony on March 2, remains to be confirmed, its nominations reflect a very positive reception in the international arena.
With 10 nominations for the Golden Globes, presented on January 5 in Los Angeles, Emilia Perez breaks a record for a musical film, surpassing Cabaret (1972) et Barbie (2023) with their nine mentions. Although the Golden Globes are not always synonymous with success at the Oscars, this recognition strengthens the film’s chances in the race for the prestigious statuettes; it is a strategic springboard.
A very effective export promotion strategy
The success ofEmilia Perez is based on a combination of artistic creativity, narrative audacity, and a very effective export promotion strategy. Its international distribution by The Veterans and Netflix, particularly in the United States, guarantees broad visibility in a key market.
Artistically, the film stands out for its treatment of a transgender story. By mixing queer themes and musical narrative, Emilia Perez fits into a space rarely explored in mainstream cinema, especially when it comes to a French production. Atypical work also because entirely original musical films are rare, studios often preferring to rely on already proven stage successes, like Wicked d’Universal Pictures.
Emilia Perez is a serious contender for the Oscars, as well as a symbol of the evolution of cinema towards greater diversity and singularity. Treating queer history through a transgender perspective resonates in a global sociological context where these issues are gaining visibility.
With more than a million admissions in France, where it is distributed by Pathé, Emilia Perez proves its ability to unite beyond the LGBT+ community. By combining musical comedy and drama, the film attracts both show fans and those looking for sensitive, deep and innovative stories. Karla Sofía Gascón, herself transgender, seduces with her enthusiasm, her talent, her sensitivity, as if the subject of the film was attached to her own heart. Jacques Audiard, known for his ambitious works – he received the Palme d’Or in 2015 for Dheepan -, is a great filmmaker, whose high standards strengthen the aura of the project.
