Emilia Pérez
2024 · Directed by Jacques Audiard
Original language: French
- drama
- thriller
The story
Rita, an underrated lawyer working for a large law firm more interested in getting criminals out of jail than bringing them to justice, is hired by the leader of a criminal organization.
What it’s like
Saturated, operatic color against stark Mexico City and mountain-road landscapes: tiled courtyards in hot sun, pale concrete offices under flat fluorescent light, and night scenes lit in deep reds and blues. Jacques Audiard moves between sleek, mobile camera work and sudden stillness, and the story bursts into sung numbers that shift the frame into choreographed, stylised space, so the film often feels like a stage piece cut with grit. Sound is layered: sharp percussive beats, orchestral swells, and quiet gaps where dialogue hangs. The vibe is glamorous yet unsettling, a blend of theatrical heightened emotion and cold, procedural tension. Violence appears in short, sudden bursts, including shootings and a brutal killing, and it is not gory but lands hard. Sexual content is limited and not explicit. Rhythm is uneven, with quieter scenes alternating with big musical set pieces. Its people's arcs trace guilt, reinvention and the cost of hiding oneself, told with moral ambiguity. It suits viewers who want a bold, genre-blending musical with a crime spine and a sharp edge, rather than gentle comfort viewing.
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