Emilia Pérez

As we witness a soul struggling to break free from the grip of societal norms, we find ourselves getting a little more lost with each step—yet the more we lose ourselves, the braver we become. Here it is, Hollywood’s latest marvel, carrying Jacques Audiard’s signature and boasting 13 Oscar nominations: Emilia Pérez.

Unlike the crime stories we’re used to, Emilia Pérez is neither a gritty gangster tale nor a classic melodrama. Audiard weaves the journey of a trans woman discovering her true identity into the dark underbelly of Mexico’s cartel world, blending genres in a way only he can. Karla Sofía Gascón takes on the role of Emilia, while Zoe Saldaña plays Rita, the lawyer who helps Emilia build a new life—only to find herself transformed in the process. And then there’s Selena Gomez… Yes, you might catch her somewhere in the film, delivering some truly terrible Spanish.

Rather than glorifying violence, the film, like many realistic dramas, focuses on its consequences—on the way violence continuously creates new victims. Emilia’s story unfolds as a series of layered reflections on the clash between one’s true self and the self imposed by society.

Strangely enough, the entire film carries a musical essence. It winks at Almodóvar’s aesthetics while taking an unpredictable turn with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s compositions. At this point, you might find yourself wondering how this film secured more Oscar nominations than The Godfather or The Lord of the Rings trilogy. And if you’re not, consider this your final wake-up call.

The film world seems determined to carve Emilia Pérez into history. Many audiences, however, are just as surprised by its success as we are. But does all this exaggerated attention mean it’s truly a masterpiece, or is Hollywood simply beginning to lose itself in its own labyrinth? Who knows.

As we slowly leave the borders of Mexico, we invite you to the playlist where we have gathered the sounds of the film: