Emilia Pérez»: A Transcultural Cinematic Experience Making Waves on Netflix

The newly released film on Netflix, «Emilia Pérez,» is making headlines for its unique multicultural composition and audacious storytelling. Although set in Mexico, the film was shot in France with dialogue primarily in Spanish, which intriguingly receives more attention from English-language media compared to Spanish outlets.

«Emilia Pérez» follows the story of a formidable Mexican cartel leader who orchestrates her own death to retire from a life of crime and reemerge as a woman. To achieve this transformation, she collaborates with an indefatigable defense attorney, portrayed by Zoe Saldaña, renowned for her adeptness at defending cartel heads.

The narrative takes an unexpected turn as the film evolves into a musical, drawing inspiration from «The Sound of Music,» particularly as the plot progresses to Switzerland. Notably, Karla Sofía Gascón, a talented transgender actress, leads the cast. Also featured is Selena Gomez, taking on the role of the cartel boss’s partner attempting to escape the criminal world.

The film, described by Netflix as «an audacious fever dream that defies genres and expectations,» has captured the interest of English-speaking audiences and critics. Paul Tassi, a contributor to Forbes.com, has highlighted it as a «surefire Oscar contender.» This anticipation is fueled by the past success of international films like Bong Joon-ho’s «Parasite,» which achieved historic wins at the 2020 Oscars.

On Rotten Tomatoes, «Emilia Pérez» holds an 80% audience score and has garnered an 82% rating from critics aggregated from 175 reviews. The film’s multilingual appeal and unusual premise contribute to its broad coverage, receiving 36% more English-language media attention than in its native Spanish.

According to data from Factiva, a major media search engine, «Emilia Pérez» has been featured in 6,977 articles throughout the year, with 2,343 in English. The United States leads in mentions, contributing 1,865 articles, while four European countries generated a total of 4,385 articles. The film’s premiere at notable film festivals such as Cannes, Toronto, and BFI London Film Festival significantly boosted its media presence.

If «Emilia Pérez» secures a win in the upcoming Academy Awards, it would further amplify its recognition and cultural significance in the global entertainment landscape.